SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Army Prosecution Authority

Ben Wallace: To ask the Solicitor-General how many times the Attorney-General 
	(1)  has intervened in cases being investigated by the Army Prosecution Authority in each year since 1996;
	(2)  has intervened in cases being investigated by the Army Prosecution Authority in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: The Attorney-General is the superintending minister for the Service Prosecuting Authorities and therefore meets regularly with all three prosecuting authorities. They consult with him about a wide range of cases, in particular the most serious and complex.

Alcohol Sales (Prosecutions)

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General how many prosecutions were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service in Southend against (a) nightclubs and (b) public houses for supplying alcohol to under-aged purchasers in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: It is not possible to separately identify instances of nightclubs and public houses prosecuted for supplying alcohol to under-aged purchasers on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database. The available data relates to all on and off licensed premises and are collated on a principal offence basis. The total figures are set out in the table that follows.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at South East Essex magistrates courts for offences relating to the sale of alcohol to persons under 18 years of age, 2001 to 2003(1)
		
			 Offence Statute Year Proceeded against 
		
		
			 Selling etc., intoxicating liquor to persons under 18 for consumption on the premises(2) Licensing Act, 1964, Section 169(1); Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983, Schedule (Sec. 3) para 4(1) 2001 2002 2003 2 1 5 
			   
			 Wholesaler selling intoxicating liquor to a person under 18 Licensing Act 1964, Sec. 181A(1) as added by Licensing Act 1988, Sec. 17 2001 2002 2003 (3)— (3)— (3)— 
		
	
	(1)These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(2)Offence relates to all on and off licensed premises.
	(3)Not available.

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Solicitor-General how many letters to the Law Officers from hon. Members in session (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

Mike O'Brien: From 2004 (a) no letters are outstanding.
	From 2005 (b) the figures are: (i) none; (ii) one; (iii)none; (iv) one; (v) one.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005 (col.137–40ws).

Crown Prosecution Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Solicitor-General how many cases referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in London have not been proceeded with because of the unwillingness of witnesses to give evidence in each year since 1997.

Mike O'Brien: During the year ending March 2005, 3,803 (2.2 per cent.) of all finalised CPS London cases resulted in an unsuccessful outcome through the unwillingness or non-attendance of witnesses. Comparable figures are not held for previous years.

Domestic Violence

Denis MacShane: To ask the Solicitor-General what guidelines on Government policy on domestic violence the Crown Prosecution Service followed before making its decision to drop criminal charges relating to an alleged assault on Ms Annajoy David Da-Bora by her former partner and the abduction of her daughter.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) policy on domestic violence is set out in its policy booklet, published November 2001 and updated in February this year, entitled Policy for Prosecuting Cases of Domestic Violence".
	The guidance contained within the booklet was fully considered and applied to the decision-making process in this case. In so doing, particular reference was made to the detrimental effect that continuing the prosecution would have had upon Ms Da-Bora's daughter.
	In this case, the proper application of the CPS's domestic violence policy and the Code for Crown Prosecutors meant that the prosecution could not proceed. This decision and the reasons for it were subsequently explained in writing to Ms Annajoy David Da-Bora.

Handcuffs (Exports)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General what action is to be taken in response to the report submitted to the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office by HM Revenue and Customs into large hiatt handcuffs; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The report from HM Revenue and Customs has been considered by Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO), the independent prosecution authority. RCPO has reviewed the evidence against the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors and has decided that there should not be a prosecution in this case.

Iraq

Michael Penning: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list UK-based law firms that have been involved in legal cases in which all proceedings are complete in support of claims by foreign nationals against Her Majesty's forces in Iraq; and what public funds each received.

Mike O'Brien: There are no cases as described in which all proceedings are complete.

Military Nuclear Waste

Michael Penning: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on European Court of Justice case C-61·03 OJ C132 vol. 48, of 28 May, on the decommissioning of military nuclear waste.

Mike O'Brien: The European Commission brought the case alleging that the UK had failed to fulfil its obligation to provide the Commission with data on the decommissioning of the 'Jason' reactor at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, as required by article 37 of the Euratom treaty. The UK argued that the treaty does not apply to the use of nuclear energy for military activities and that therefore it was under no duty to provide the Commission with data on the decommissioning. The European Court of Justice found that the Euratom treaty is not applicable to uses of nuclear energy for military purposes and held that article 37 did not apply to the decommissioning of the Jason reactor.

DEFENCE

Security, Terrorism and the UK" Report

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has read the report, Security, Terrorism and the UK", jointly published by the Economic and Social Research Council and Chatham House.

John Reid: Yes.

Aarhus Convention

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on UK participation in the Aarhus Convention as it applies to freedom of information obligations in environmental affairs of a defence nature, with particular reference to (a) depleted uranium and (b) nuclear material.

Don Touhig: Under the auspices of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the provisions of the Aarhus Convention relating to public access to environmental information have been implemented by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. The Ministry of Defence is subject to both the Environmental Information Regulations and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Any requests to the Department for information about depleted uranium or nuclear material are answered in accordance with the terms of the relevant legislation.

Aircraft Carriers

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's latest estimate is of the (a) complement, (b) displacement and (c) cost of the future aircraft carriers.

Adam Ingram: The future aircraft carrier project is in its assessment phase, the aim of which is to inform how best to meet our developing capability requirements and to balance the key parameters of performance, time and cost. The complement and displacement of the carriers form part of that assessment and final decisions on these and other main specifications have yet to be taken. Such details, together with estimated costs, are being constantly refined and it would be unhelpful to focus on specific figures until after the main investment decision.

Armed Forces (Overseas Personnel)

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) servicemen and (b) servicewomen serving in the UK armed forces are from overseas; what nations are represented in each of the services; in what numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The numbers of servicemen and servicewomen serving in the UK armed forces who have a nationality other than British are shown by country in the following table.
	
		Male UK regular forces with nationality other than British -- Number
		
			 September 2005(5) All services(4) Naval services Army RAF 
		
		
			 Total recorded non-British  nationality(6) 6,400 430 (8)5,805 (10)165 
			  
			 Country 
			 Antigua (4)(5508110005)— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Australia 100 20 70 10 
			 Bahamas (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Bangladesh 5 (4)(5508110005)"— 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Barbados 20 5 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Belize 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Botswana 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Cameroon 20 (4) 0 — 20 (4) 0 — 
			 Canada 100 20 60 20 
			 Cyprus (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Dominican Republic 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 10 (4) 0 — 
			 Egypt (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Eire 305 55 200 50 
			 Falkland Islands (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Fiji 1,880 60 1,820 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Gambia 75 (4)(5508110005)"— 70 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Germany(6) (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Ghana 570 (4)(5508110005)"— 565 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Gibraltar (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Grenada 45 (4)(5508110005)"— 45 (4) 0 — 
			 Guyana 15 (4) 0 — 15 (4) 0 — 
			 India 45 5 40 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Jamaica 795 15 760 20 
			 Kenya 95 5 85 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Malawi 75 (4)(5508110005)"— 70 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Malaysia 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 5 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Malta 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 5 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Mauritius 20 (4) 0 — 20 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Montserrat (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Namibia (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Nepal 25 (4) 0 — 25 (4) 0 — 
			 New Zealand 80 10 60 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Nigeria 50 (4)(5508110005)"— 50 (4) 0 — 
			 Other African country (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Other Asiatic country (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Pacific Islands (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Pakistan 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Papua New Guinea (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Seychelles 10 (4) 0 — 10 (4) 0 — 
			 Sierra Leone 35 (4) 0 — 35 (4) 0 — 
			 Singapore (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 South Africa 655 55 595 5 
			 Sri Lanka(7) 15 (4) 0 — 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 St. Christopher (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 St. Helena 20 (4)(5508110005)"— 20 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 St. Kitts (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 St. Lucia 195 (4)(5508110005)"— 190 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 St. Vincent 380 105 270 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Swaziland 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Switzerland (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Tanzania (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Tonga 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 80 15 60 10 
			 Uganda 35 (4) 0 — 35 (4) 0 — 
			 Ukraine (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 United Arab Emirates 10 10 (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 USA 5 (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 West Indies (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Zambia 15 (4)(5508110005)"— 15 (4) 0 — 
			 Zimbabwe/Rhodesia 500 10 485 10 
			 Other non-British(8)(5508110009) 20 (4) 0 — 15 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Not recorded 625 530 20 (11)70 
		
	
	
		Female UK regular forces with nationality other than British -- Number
		
			 September 2005(5) All services(4) Naval services Army RAF 
		
		
			 Total recorded non-British  nationality(6) 750 60 (9)655 40 
			  
			 Country 
			 Antigua (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Australia 10 10 (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Bahamas (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Bangladesh (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Barbados (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Belize (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Botswana (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Cameroon (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Canada (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Cyprus (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Dominican Republic (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Egypt (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Eire 25 5 10 10 
			 Falkland Islands (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Fiji 160 10 145 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Gambia (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Germany(6) (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Ghana 20 (4) 0 — 20 (4) 0 — 
			 Gibraltar (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Grenada 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Guyana (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 India (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Jamaica 230 10 220 5 
			 Kenya 10 (4) 0 — 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Malawi 10 (4) 0 — 10 (4) 0 — 
			 Malaysia (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Malta (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Mauritius (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Montserrat (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Namibia (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Nepal (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 New Zealand 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Nigeria 5 (4) 0 — 5 (4) 0 — 
			 Other African country (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Other Asiatic country (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Pacific Islands (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Pakistan (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Papua New Guinea (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Seychelles (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Sierra Leone (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Singapore (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 South Africa 55 (4)(5508110005)"— 55 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Sri Lanka(7) (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 St. Christopher (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 St. Helena 10 (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— 5 
			 St Kitts (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 St. Lucia 35 (4) 0 — 35 (4) 0 — 
			 St. Vincent 40 25 15 (4) 0 — 
			 St. Vincent (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Switzerland (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Tanzania (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Tonga (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 15 (4)(5508110005)"— 10 (4)(5508110005)"— 
			 Uganda (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 Ukraine (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 United Arab Emirates (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 USA (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — (4) 0 — 
			 West Indies (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Zambia (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Zimbabwe/Rhodesia 90 (4)(5508110005)"— 85 (4) 0 — 
			 Other non-British(9) (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — (4)(5508110005)"— (4) 0 — 
			 Not recorded 85 70 5 (12)10 
		
	
	(4)Naval service and Army data are for UK Regular Forces (trained and untrained), including nursing services and excluding full-time reserve service personnel, Gurkhas, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists. Naval service figures are for UK regular forces including nursing services, FTRS and activated reservists.
	(5)Naval service data are provided by AFPAA as data are not centrally held. Data are for personnel serving at 3 October 2005. Army data are provided by DASA for personnel serving at 1 September 2005. RAF data are provided by AFPAA as data are not centrally held. Data are for personnel serving as at 16 September 2005.
	(6)Includes personnel with nationality recorded as West German.
	(7)Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Ceylon.
	(8)Includes 15 personnel with nationality recorded as Commonwealth/foreign and personnel with nationality recorded as foreign/foreign.
	(9)Includes personnel with nationality recorded as Commonwealth/foreign.
	(10)Includes personnel with nationality recorded as foreign national.
	(11)Includes 70 personnel recorded as Commonwealth by birth, but with no nationality recorded.
	(12)Includes 10 personnel recorded as Commonwealth by birth, but with no nationality recorded.
	(13)denotes zero.
	(14)denotes less than five.
	Note:
	Data are rounded to 5 to prevent disclosure of sensitive information. Due to the founding methods used totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	Source:
	DASA (Tri-Service)

Armed Forces Deployment

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list UK armed forces units hatted for potential deployment with (a) EU and (b) NATO units.

Adam Ingram: The Government declare forces to NATO and the EU through the Defence Planning Questionnaire and Force Catalogue respectively. The declarations entail that those forces are earmarked as available in principle for potential deployment on NATO or EU operations. Any actual decision to deploy is taken by the Government, voluntarily and on a case-by-case basis. However the Government are committed under article V of the North Atlantic Treaty to deployment in collective defence as required.
	The forces declared are shown in the following tables. The tables' slightly different formats reflect the different ways in which NATO and the EU request nations to express their declarations.
	
		UK units earmarked for potential NATO operations
		
			 Unit type Country plans 2005 
		
		
			 Land Units  
			 Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) complete, including:  
			 Signal Brigades 2 
			 Engineer Brigade 1 
			 Reconnaissance Brigade 1 
			 Artillery Brigade 1 
			 Air Assault Brigade 1 
			 Joint Helicopter Force 1 
			 Rear Support Command Headquarters 1 
			 RAPIER Air Defence Regiment 1 
			 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit 1 
			   
			 1 (UK) Armoured Division complete, including:  
			 Armoured Brigades 2 
			 Mechanised Brigade 1 
			 Logistic Brigade 1 
			   
			 3 (UK) Division complete, including:  
			 Mechanised Brigades 2 
			 Light Brigade 1 
			 Logistic Brigade 1 
			   
			 Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)  
			 Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces (COMUKMARFOR):  
			 Maritime Component Commander 1 
			   
			 Aircraft Carrier:  
			 Aircraft Carrier—CVS (including Sea Harrier) 3 
			   
			 Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW Ships):  
			 DD/FF (Multipurpose) 25 
			   
			 Submarines:  
			 Attack Nuclear 10 
			 Ballistic Missile Nuclear 4 
			 Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):  
			 Landing Platform Dock 2 
			   
			 Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ship):  
			 Landing Platform Helicopter 1 
			   
			 Amphibious Warfare Ships (AMW Ships):  
			 Landing Ship Logistics 3 
			   
			 Mobile Logistic Support Ship (MLS):  
			 (Ammunition) 2 
			   
			 Mine Warfare Vessels:  
			 Mine Counter Measures Command and Support Ship 2 
			 Mine Hunter/Mine Sweeper 16 
			   
			 Auxiliary Ships:  
			 (OILER) 10 
			 RoRo (AKR) 6 
			   
			 HQ 3 CDO BDE RM 1 
			   
			 3 CDO BDE:  
			 (Amphibious Brigade comprising 3 RM Battalions, Artillery, Signals, Aviation and Logistics support) 1 
			   
			 Air Units  
			 E-3D 6 
			 Tornado F3 20 
			 Jaguar 14 
			 Rapier 4 
			 Tornado GR-1/4 60 
			 Force Protection—Ground Defence Module 6 
			 Nimrod-MR2 18 
			 BAE125 5 
			 BAE146 1 
			 C-130 J/K 41 
			 C-17 4 
			 Force Protection—Ground Ops Support 5 
			 Tristar C2 3 
			 Tristar K1/KCI—VC10 C1K 14 
			 VC10 K3/4 9 
			 Harrier GR 7/9 28 
			   
			 Joint Units  
			 Combat Search and Rescue helicopters 8 
			 Joint Force Special Operations Component Commander 1 
			 Special Operations Forces Task Group 1 
			 Joint Force Logistic Component, complete including:  
			 Joint Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) Group 1 
			 Infrastructure Engineering Brigade 1 
			 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment 1 
			 Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital) 1,000 beds 
			 Pioneer Regiment 1 
			 Port and Maritime Regiment 1 
			 Movement Control Regiments 2 
		
	
	
		UK units earmarked for potential EU operations
		
			 Unit type Country plans 2005 
		
		
			 Land Units  
			 Armoured or Mechanised Divisional Headquarters complete 1 
			 Brigade headquarters complete (drawn from armoured, mechanised or airborne as required) 1 
			 General Support Signal Regiments 2 
			 Armoured Regiments 2 
			 Armoured Infantry Battalions 2 
			 Mechanised Infantry Battalions 2 
			 Air Assault Battalions 3 
			 Composite Aviation Unit 1 
			 Support Helicopter Force 1 
			 Field Artillery Regiments 3 
			 Multi-Barrelled Launcher Rocket System (MLRS) Battery 1 
			 RAPIER Air Defence Regiments 2 
			 Close Support Engineer Regiments 2 
			 General Support Engineer Regiments 2 
			 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company 1 
			 Formation Reconnaissance Regiment 1 
			 Special Operations Force Battalion 1 
			 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Unit 1 
			 Logistic Battalion 1 
			 Transport Battalions 3 
			 General Support Logistic Regiment 1 
			 Maintenance and Recovery Battalion 1 
			 Role 3 Medical (Field Hospital) Unit 1 
			 Military Police Companies 2 
			   
			 Maritime Units (Royal Navy and Royal Marines)  
			 Aircraft Carrier (With Sea Harrier) 1 
			 Submarine Attack Nuclear 2 
			 Destroyers/Frigates (AAW/ASW) 4 
			 Auxiliary Ships 13 
			 Amphibious Warfare Ships (LPH/LPD/LSL) 6 
			 Mine Warfare Vessels 4 
			 HQ 3 CDO BDE RM 1 
			 3 CDO BDE RM 1 
			 Survey Vessel 1 
			   
			 Air Units  
			 Tornado F3 18 
			 Tornado GR4 24 
			 Harrier GR7/9 10 
			 Jaguar 8 
			 VC10K/Tristar AAR-D 15 
			 Ground Based Air Defence 2 
			 Communications aircraft (BAE 125) 2 
			 APOD 1 
			 SIBCRA Team 1 
			 Tristar/VC10 PAX 11 
			 C130 J/K TCC-M 43 
			 C17 TCC-H 4 
			   
			 Command, Control, Communications and Information Assets  
			 Operational Headquarters 1 
			 Force Headquarters 1 
			 Force Headquarters carrying ship 1 
			 Special Operations Force Component Commander 1 
			 Psychological Operations Component Commander 1 
			 Land Component Commander HQ carrying ship 2 
			 Land Component Commander 1 
			 Maritime Component Commander 1 
			 Air Component Commander 1 
			 Combined Air Operations Centre 1 
			   
			 Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Assets  
			 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft 3 
			 Airborne Early Warning aircraft 4 
			 Electronic and signal intelligence gathering aircraft 2 
			 Strategic reconnaissance aircraft 2 
			 Ground-Based Electronic Warfare radar 1 
			 Maritime Patrol Aircraft 4 
			 Electronic Warfare Company Task Force 1 
			 Surveillance and Target Acquisition unit 1

Bowman

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects Bowman to be fully operational.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer Igave on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2110W, to the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton).

Colombia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the Department has spent on military aid to Colombia in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: In Financial Years 2003–04 and 2004–05 the cost of military assistance provided by the UK MOD to the Colombian armed forces was around £120,000 per year. This assistance covered Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training and the provision of courses to members of the Colombian armed forces, both in Colombia and in the UK. The former aimed to reduce the number of civilian and military deaths from explosive devices, and the latter at introducing Colombian military personnel to British Defence concepts in key areas, such as Rules of Engagement and democratic and accountable control of the armed forces.
	The information for previous years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence Export Services Organisation

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Defence Export Services Organisation has provided advice to UK companies on the selection of agents in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what mechanisms the Defence Export Services Organisation uses to record the advice given by its (a) British-based and (b) overseas staff to companies on the selection of agents;
	(3)  whether the Defence Export Services Organisation provides (a) off the shelf lists and (b) bespoke lists of companies in relation to the selection of agents.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton and Wanstead (Harry Cohen) on 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 861W. Such advice is typically given in the course of routine and informal contact with industry and is therefore not normally minuted or recorded on file. For countries in which the use of agents is part of normal business practice, DESO tries to meet any requests received for a list, relying as far as possible on information already held.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Adam Ingram: The information is not held in the format requested.

European Defence Agency

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the work plans of the European Defence Agency are; what its cost has been to date; and if he will make a statement on its future.

Adam Ingram: There are currently four 'flagship' projects within the European Defence Agency (EDA) work programme, representing the priority areas for the Agency:
	Command, Control and Communications—looking into current ESDP operational shortfalls, in order to develop capacity and interoperability for the future;
	Armoured Fighting Vehicles—understanding future requirements and relevant technological and industrial needs to bring forward proposals to improve collaboration in technology development and procurement programmes;
	European Defence Equipment Market—carrying out work on the introduction of a voluntary code of conduct for the manner in which member states procure defence equipment in order to improve the competitiveness and efficiency; and
	Unmanned Aerial Vehicles—looking at future research and technology needs.
	Other major activities include: the full establishment of the Agency; the transfer of responsibilities from the Western European Armaments Group/Western European Armaments Organisation; review of the European defence test and evaluation base and development of longer-term thinking for the improvement of European defence capability and capacity.
	The EDA's budget from its establishment in July 2004 to the end of 2004 was €1.8 million. The Agency has a budget of €19.9 million for 2005. For 2005 the United Kingdom will pay €3,596, 803 towards the EDA budget, met from the MOD's budget.
	The Government are a strong supporter of the European Defence Agency. The future success of the Agency will be a critical factor in driving forward work to improve European defence capabilities by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individual EU member states. The Agency will significantly strengthen both the European Security and Defence Policy and Europe's contribution to NATO by rationalising and harmonising capability requirements, and linking those directly to industrial and research efforts.

European Defence Agency

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the treaty basis is for those elements of the European Defence Agency that have already been established.

Adam Ingram: The European Defence Agency was formally established on 12 July 2004 by a unanimous Heads of State and Government decision. It was established under the Council Joint Action 2004/551/CFSP on the basis of Article 14 of the Treaty on the European Union.

European Defence Agency

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those elements of the UK defence industry duplicated by other EU defence industries; what the role is of the European Defence Agency in removing duplication; which elements (a) have and (b) have not been identified as being of strategic national interest; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Other European defence industries include many similar capabilities to those of the UK defence industry, although these capabilities are not necessarily identical. It is therefore difficult to assess which elements are duplicated and I am unable to provide a list.
	The European Defence Agency (EDA) has a number of workstrands under way that are intended to improve the effectiveness of the European Defence Equipment Market (EDEM), including the possible introduction of a voluntary intergovernmental code of conduct. While this work is not intended specifically at removing duplication, we would expect through a more competitive and efficient EDEM that market forces would have a beneficial impact on surplus capacity and inefficiencies. More generally the EDA intends to look at future demand and capacity in various sectors of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (such as armoured fighting vehicles), as well as member states' national strategies for these areas, which may lead to recommendations for improving the efficiency in these sectors. However it will be for each member state to decide how or indeed whether to take these forward.
	Our work to formulate a national defence industrial strategy, recently announced by the Minister for Defence Procurement, will identify those industrial capabilities that we wish to retain within the UK in order to ensure appropriate sovereignty and/or contribute to collaborative efforts. We expect to make a major announcement on this work by the end of 2005, along with our initial conclusions on specific sectors. The strategy is one of many initiatives that contribute to the wider aim of ensuring that the capability requirements of the armed forces can be met, now and in the future, on a cost-effective basis.

Fuel Expenditure

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Department's expenditure on fuel was in each of the last 10 years.

Adam Ingram: The costs of fuel consumption are only available for the years in which Departmental Resource Accounts have been produced. The fuel costs are shown in the following table and include vehicle and aviation fuel, engine oil and lubricants.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 331 
			 2001–02 368 
			 2002–03 364 
			 2003–04 370 
			 2004–05 402 
		
	
	In addition the costs of fuel oil consumed for heating purposes were as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 19 
			 2001–02 21 
			 2002–03 26 
			 2003–04 21 
			 2004–05 26

Independent Assessor of Military Complaints

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons he did not allow the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints access to the Army records of 11 and 12 July 2004 North Belfast Parades; and if he will allow the Independent Assessor access to these records.

Adam Ingram: We thoroughly considered the request for papers by the Independent Assessor and concluded that they were not required to enable the assessor to carry out his statutory function under the Terrorism Act 2000. In reaching this conclusion, the Ministry of Defence considered whether further analysis of the events on 12 July 2004 was necessary. The policing of these parades was examined in considerable detail by Keir Starmer QC and Jane Gordon in their special report for the Policing Board published in November 2004. We do not consider, given the action already taken, that any useful purpose would be served by further examination.
	Ministry of Defence officials have written to Mr.McDonald to explain this reasoning.

Iraq

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations his Department has made to the Iraqi Government concerning the pursuit of those guilty of the fatal attack on six British military policemen in Iraq in June 2003.

Adam Ingram: We are doing all we can to enable those responsible for the deaths of the six soldiers to be brought to justice, and we continue to take steps to ensure that this case remains a priority for the Iraqi authorities, who retain jurisdiction.

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops have served in Iraq to date; and how many were deployed there on 1 January and 1 July.

Adam Ingram: The approximate number of British Service personnel deployed to Iraq on 1 January and 1 July were 7,660 and 7,940 respectively.
	Information on the total number of personnel who have served in Iraq is not available centrally. However, the estimated number of Service personnel who have been deployed on Operation Telic to date is 99,500.

Iraq

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) ordnance and (b) weapons systems which have been intercepted on or in the vicinity of the Iraq/Iran border by (i) coalition forces, (ii) UK service personnel and (iii) Iraq security services since the collapse of the Saddam regime; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We do not hold this information centrally.

IT Projects

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what computerisation or IT failures have occurred in projects managed by (a) his Department and (b) the various branches of the armed forces in each year since 1997; what the contracted cost of the project was in each case; and what estimate he has made of the direct and indirect costs of failure or breakdown in each case.

Don Touhig: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Joint Strike Fighter

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans his Department has developed in the event of failure to secure agreement with the United States on technology transfer on the Joint Strike Fighter.

Adam Ingram: The UK has secured access to the technical information we need at this stage of the Joint Combat Aircraft programme. We have a strategy in place aimed at ensuring that the Ministry of Defence continues to have adequate information access to support the programme.

Local Government Finance Review

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's representations to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the review of local government finance.

Adam Ingram: No such representations have been made.

Military Deployment (Northern Ireland)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the regular armed forces are serving in Northern Ireland.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 April 2005 there were 7,060 United Kingdom regular forces personnel posted to Northern Ireland. The numbers serving in Northern Ireland may differ slightly, due to personnel being deployed to other locations.

Military Personnel (Medals)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel who have served (a) in Operation Telic in Iraq and (b) in Afghanistan since 2001 have been awarded a medal; how many eligible personnel have not received a medal; how many personnel who have fulfilled the minimum criteria for long service have not yet been awarded the relevant medal; what the average timescale between qualifying for such awards and issue is; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: It is not possible to answer the question fully because the information is either not held or broken down in the manner requested.
	As at 26 September 2005, 92,171 applications have been received for the Iraq Medal. Of these, 81,344 have been assessed and 10,827 are awaiting assessment. There is a three-month timescale from receipt of application to issue of medal.
	As at 26 September 2005, 3,609 applications have been received for the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan. Of these, 916 have been assessed and 2,693 are awaiting assessment. Applications are cleared within three months of receipt.
	Medals for long Service are dealt with in order of receipt and, under normal circumstances, are cleared within three months. There are currently 1,228 outstanding.

National Service Conscripts Medal

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to introduce a national service conscripts medal.

Don Touhig: It has never been the Government's policy to consider service in the armed forces as the sole justification for the institution of a medal. People who were conscripted into the armed forces during the Second World War and in the post-war years and who took part in campaigns or operations for which medals were subsequently awarded, had an equal right to receive them as did their regular colleagues. It would be divisive to offer national service veterans a medal simply for being conscripted, when those who volunteered for service would be excluded from receiving any award.

Nuclear Deterrent

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK Government has paid Atomic Weapons Establishment Management Limited in each of the last 20 years.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on AWE Aldermaston was in each of the past five years; and what the estimated expenditure is for (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2007–08.

John Reid: The contract between the Ministry of Defence and Atomic Weapons Establishment Management Limited commenced in April 2000. Annual expenditure at the Establishment since then, and that projected for 2005–06 to 2007–08, is as follows:
	
		Atomic weapons establishment annual expenditure(as at October 2005, £ million, 2005–06 prices)
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2000–01 311 
			 2001–02 291 
			 2002–03 278 
			 2003–04 300 
			 2004–05 363 
			 2005–06 (16)507 
		
	
	(16)Forecast.
	On current planning we expect expenditure at the Atomic Weapons Establishment to be a total for the next two financial years (2006–07 and 2007–08) of around £1.5 billion.
	Figures previously published in the 18 March 2005, Official Report, column 478W have now been uprated to 2005–06 prices. In addition, certain elements of cost have been re-allocated between 2002–03 and 2003–04. The figure for 2004–05, previously reported as provisional, now reflects actual expenditure. I notified these changes to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 16 August 2005. A copy of my letter is in the Library of the House.

RAF Pilot Training

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of training a pilot (a) through and (b) by direct entry to the Royal Air Force.

Don Touhig: The difference in the cost of training a pilot through the University Air Squadron and direct entry is shown in the following table.
	
		Pilot training costs -- £
		
			 Pilot type Cost 
		
		
			 Fast jet  
			 University air squadron 1,857,541 
			 Direct entrant 1,848,181 
			   
			 Multi engine  
			 University air squadron 400,298 
			 Direct entrant 390,938 
			   
			 Rotary wing  
			 University air squadron 581,323 
			 Direct entrant 571,963 
		
	
	Note:
	Costs exclude operational conversion unit training.

RAF Saxa Vord

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what (a) trade union and (b) local consultation will take place on proposals to close RAF Saxa Vord; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Executive and (b) Shetland Island council on proposals to close RAF Saxa Vord.

Adam Ingram: On 21 July this year, I announced a period of trade unions consultation on our provisional decision to place RAF Saxa Vord on care and maintenance from April 2006. No objection to the proposal was received from the trade unions and I announced in my letter to you on 6 October that we intended to proceed as planned. Further consultation with the trades unions will take place as the measure is implemented.
	I wrote to the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament in July to inform him of the provisional decision, and again in October following the trade union consultation; my officials acted similarly in respect of the Scottish Executive. Officials have also held informal discussions with the local authority, the local enterprise company and their consultants as well as the Hjaltland Housing Association. Further discussions will now take place and a full draw down programme will be agreed.

Reservists

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on plans for call-out of reservists in support of operations in Afghanistan.

Don Touhig: Reservists have made a valuable contribution to operations in Afghanistan since operations commenced in that theatre in 2001 and some 63 reservists were called out in the 12-month period ending 30 September 2005. We plan to renew the call-out Order which expired at the end of last month so that reservists can continue to be brought into service to support operations in Afghanistan.

Surface Fleet

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2005, Official Report, column 1540W, on surface fleet, which ships he expects will be available (a) on active service and (b) in reserve in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013 and (iii) 2014.

Adam Ingram: It is currently planned that the Royal Navy will operate a fleet of 25 destroyers and frigates. At present there are no plans for any of these ships to be held at very low readiness other than when undergoing refit or major maintenance work.

TA/Cadet Forces

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of each unit of the (a) Territorial Army and (b) cadet forces in Milton Keynes is; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			 Unit Role 
		
		
			 E (Royal Green Jackets) Company  An infantry company with 
			 Royal Rifle Volunteers, Territorial Army both rifle and mortar platoons 
			   
			 I Company Headquarters, Buckinghamshire Army Cadet Force (ACF)  10 Platoon, Buckinghamshire ACF The ACF role is to inspire young people to achieve success within their local community and develop in them the qualities of a good citizen.

Tain Air Weapons Range

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours the Tain Air Weapons Range was in use for training operations in 2004.

Adam Ingram: During 2004, the Tain Air Weapons Range was in use by aircraft for a total of 712 hours and 45 minutes.

Tain Air Weapons Range

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sorties were undertaken using the Tain Air Weapons Range in 2004 by (a) RAF aircraft and (b) non-RAF aircraft.

Adam Ingram: The information is not held in the form requested; we record the number of passes made over the Tain Air Weapons Range by aircraft training there, rather than the number of sorties. A sortie may involve more than one pass over the range. The following table shows the total number of passes made by aircraft at Tain Air Weapons Range, broken down by RAF and non-RAF aircraft.
	
		Number of passes made in 2004
		
			  
		
		
			 Number of RAF aircraft passes 20,868 
			 Number of non-RAF aircraft passes 1,063

Trident Nuclear Missile System

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has held with the US Administration on purchasing a replacement for the Trident nuclear missile system.

John Reid: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Moore) on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2120W.

Trident/Vanguard Replacements

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether a decision has been taken to replace the Trident D5 missiles and 4 Vanguard class submarines.

John Reid: I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) and for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 985.

Typhoon

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tests have been conducted on the Typhoon's weapons systems on the Gripen; and when he expects weapons testing on the Typhoon to be completed.

Adam Ingram: The Meteor missile, which will be integrated onto Typhoon, is using Gripen as its primary development platform. Weapons testing on Typhoon is currently planned to continue at least until 2013 and probably beyond as new generations of weapon become available.

Typhoon

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of the decision by the Greek government to purchase the F-16 on the export potential of the Typhoon.

Adam Ingram: Eurofighter Typhoon is a world-class aircraft with significant export potential and a number of countries have expressed an interest in the aircraft. In announcing its decision to purchase further F-16 aircraft, the Greek government made clear its intention also to acquire a fourth generation fighter aircraft. The United Kingdom and its Eurofighter Partner Nations believe strongly that Eurofighter Typhoon would meet this requirement. We continue to support our German partners who are leading this campaign.

Typhoon

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on missile integration for the Typhoon.

Adam Ingram: The advanced short range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM), advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM), AIM-9L and IRIS-T are being integrated onto Typhoon; although only the ASRAAM and AMRAAM will be used by the RAF. The majority of this work is now complete and in-service firings of ASRAAM have taken place. Further missile integration onto Typhoon is planned as part of the proposed future capability programme (FCP). The programme is expected to include meteor and stormshadow integration along with upgrades to ASRAAM and AMRAAM.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the Government are providing to the Ugandan Government for training of soldiers in peacekeeping and protecting civilian populations in northern Uganda.

Adam Ingram: The UK provides a small amount of training annually for the Ugandan Peoples' Defence Force (UPDF). This training is funded from both the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP) and the Defence Assistance Fund (DAF), and is primarily targeted at increasing national capacity to conduct Peace Support Operations (PSO).
	Training activities include the deployment of Short Term Training Teams to Uganda and attendance on relevant courses in UK. Funding has also been provided for Kenyan instructors to deliver a two week PSO package at the Ugandan Staff College. In addition, the UK funded International Mine Action Training Centre in Nairobi has recently commenced the training of 140 UPDF engineers in humanitarian de-mining in preparation for mine clearance operations in northern Uganda, overseen by the UN Development Programme and the Mines Awareness Trust. A similar programme of activities is being developed for 2006–07.
	Our Defence Adviser in Kampala provides general advice to the UPDF on dealing with the threat from the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) and protecting the civilian population in northern Uganda, including theInternally Displaced Persons (IDP) in camps. The importance of protecting the civilian population is routinely stressed in contacts with the Ugandan authorities.
	DfID has separately provided approximately £2.5 million in non-military assistance for conflict resolution efforts in northern and eastern Uganda. In addition, DfID is supporting a number of programmes responding to the plight of vulnerable groups affected by conflict. This includes help to protect children who commute into main towns each night to avoid abduction by the LRA. Furthermore, UNICEF has a protection team based in northern Uganda, which the UK helps finance. This team undertakes specific interventions to make the environment safer for women and children in the IDP camps.

UK Military Advice/Training

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training courses held in the UK the UK has provided to military personnel from overseas in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) country of origin and (b) number of personnel involved .

Adam Ingram: During the period 1997 to date, the UK has provided training courses in the UK for military personnel from 145 countries.
	A table, which has been placed in the Library, contains a complete list of those countries broken down by country of origin and number of personnel involved in each year since 1997.

UK Military Advice/Training

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the (a) extent and (b) impact of the UK's human rights training of foreign military personnel; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will list the countries to which the UK has provided human rights training in (a) the military and (b) other security sectors in each year since 1997; and what (i) type and (ii) duration of training was provided in each case.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence does not provide human rights training as a specific subject, but we reinforce adherence to the key principles in much of the training we offer. MOD training underlines the role of military forces within wider civil society, the importance of conducting activities within the rule of law, the role and importance of proportionate rules of engagement, and ensuring the proper democratic controls. It is not possible to isolate these aspects of our training for analysis.

University Air Squadrons

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes are planned for the operation of university air squadrons, with particular reference to flying instruction.

Don Touhig: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement of today.

University Air Squadrons

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of university air squadrons in (a) making a risk assessment of potential pilots and (b) providing a link between the Royal Air Force and the civilian population.

Don Touhig: All new pilot recruits to the Royal Air Force have to successfully complete the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre, regardless of method of entry. It is here that in-depth psychometric competency testing is undertaken to ensure that the right pilots are taken into the Royal Air Force. While the University Air Squadrons do not specifically make a risk assessment of potential pilots, they have, over the past 10 years, acted as part of the streaming process during Elementary Flying Training. The recent changes mean that Elementary Flying Training will now be undertaken at a more appropriate stage.
	University Air Squadrons provide a link by raising the profile of the Royal Air Force and project a positive image of the service through University Air Squadron members to other undergraduates, university staff and the wider civilian community. Their principle aim is to provide a practical link between the Royal Air Force and universities, thereby fostering an interest in and understanding of the Royal Air Force.

University Air Squadrons

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role university air squadrons play in recruiting personnel to the Royal Air Force.

Don Touhig: The principle aim of the University Air Squadrons is to provide a practical link between the Royal Air Force and universities, thereby fostering an interest in and understanding of the Royal Air Force. In the two year period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2005 the successful University Air Squadron applicants represented nine percent of the officer recruiting target for that period.

University Air Squadrons

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of pilots entering the Royal Air Force since 1997 have passed through university air squadrons.

Don Touhig: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total in University air squadrons (percentage) 
		
		
			 1997–98 95 64 
			 1998–99 187 60 
			 1999–2000 187 50 
			 2000–01 178 53 
			 2001–02 178 49 
			 2002–03 177 53 
			 2003–04 167 56

Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what websites come under his Department's responsibility; and what the (a) cost and (b) number of visitors to those sites was in 2004–05.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence and armed forces collectively maintain five corporate websites. Direct expenditure on these and the number of visits that each site received in the financial year 2004–05 were as follows:
	
		
			 Organisation Address Expenditure (£) Visits(17)(million) 
		
		
			 Ministry of Defence www.mod.uk 127,192 10.3 
			 Freedom of Information www.foi.mod.uk 30,000 0.5 
			 Royal Navy www.royal-navy.mod.uk 197,888 28.3 
			 British Army www.army.mod.uk 96,000 39.3 
			 Royal Air Force www.raf.mod.uk 121,213 137 
			 Total — 572,293 — 
		
	
	(17)Number of visitors is based on unique page views for each site apart from the Royal Air Force whose figures show total number of hits.
	A number of other, generally small, websites are maintained by subsidiary organisations of the MOD and armed forces. However, information on their expenditure and number of visitors is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Artists' Resale Right Regulations 2005

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Design and Artists Copyright Society on the Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2005; and when the submissions on the public consultation on implementing the European Directive on Droit de Suite will be published.

Alan Johnson: On my behalf, officials at the Patent Office are involved in on-going discussions with the Design Artists Copyright Society on the Artist's Resale Right Regulations and have met them regularly. All submissions to the public consultation are available from the Patent Office.

Bank Holidays

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the (a) economic and (b) social effects of increasing the number of bank holidays.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In 2001, we estimated that the cost to business of an additional bank holiday would be around £2 billion. It is possible that there would be positive social effects of an additional bank holiday, for example working parents spending more time with their children. However, there is a need to balance the possible benefits of increasing the number of bank holidays to individuals and some businesses against the cost and disruption to other businesses and there are other ways of achieving this positive social effect.

Business Practice (Wage Labour)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to monitor the business practices of United Kingdom-based international corporations abroad, with particular reference to wage labour; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: UK-based international companies which operate in other countries, and which are subject to the laws applicable in those counties are encouraged to apply high standards of corporate behaviour, including their protecting workers rights.
	The UK plays a leading role in ensuring that the international framework to promote and to tackle abuses of those rights throughout the world is in place, through its work with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which is responsible for developing, promoting and monitoring labour standards. We play an active role in the ILO Committee on Multinational Enterprises and support the promotion and follow-up of the ILO Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy which seeks to enhance the positive social and labour effects of multinational corporations' operations throughout the world.
	We also promote the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which recommend standards of responsible business conduct for businesses operating in or from the 37 adhering countries and have written to the FTSE 100 companies to raise awareness of these expectations. We have also set out our approach to encouraging environmentally and socially responsible practice internationally in our International Strategic Framework on Corporate Social Responsibility" published in March.

Carbon Emissions

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the effect of the closure of nuclear power stations on UK carbon emissions for each of the next 15 years.

Malcolm Wicks: In November 2004 the Department published projections of generation for the period to 2020. Because of uncertainty about the generation mix in individual years figures were produced for 2010, 2015 and 2020 only. They include assumptions about the closure dates of British Energy nuclear plants after 2010. The projections are available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/sepn/uep_addendum.pdf.
	On the current projections it is expected that 2.2GW of plant will have closed by 2010, a further 3.6GW by 2015 and an additional 2.4GW by 2020.
	British Energy, however, recently announced that it intended to seek a life extension for its Dungeness B plant until 2018.
	The effect of nuclear closures on carbon emissions will depend on the assumptions on the replacement plant. If the replacement plant is gas-fired then each TWh of generation is projected to produce around 0.1 million tonnes of carbon.

Carbon Sequestration

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to ensure future offshore oil and gas pipelines and infrastructure are suitable for carbon sequestration.

Malcolm Wicks: As part of the work leading on from the Carbon Abatement Technology Strategy which I announced last month we will be looking at this issue and will decide on the most appropriate policy on pipelines and infrastructure as a result.

Charity Stamp

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if he will encourage the Royal Mail to introduce a charity stamp, sold over the counter at a higher price than normal, with the surplus revenue being allocated to a consortium of charities;
	(2)  what (a) representations he has received and (b) discussions he has had concerning the possibility of the Royal Mail introducing a charity stamp, sold over the counter at a higher price than normal, with the surplus revenue being allocated to a consortium of charities;
	(3)  what commercial freedom the Royal Mail has to introduce a charity stamp, sold over the counter at a higher price than normal, with the surplus revenue being allocated to a consortium of charities, without ministerial approval.

Barry Gardiner: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has not received any representations or held any discussions on this subject. Decisions relating to stamp issues are the direct responsibility of Royal Mail's management.

Community Safety Unit

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the status of the Community Safety Unit within his Department.

Alun Michael: In order to better achieve our target of having among the best consumer protection and empowerment and competition regimes in the world, the work of the former consumer safety unit has largely been integrated with the work of other units in the Department's Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate and Standards and Technical Regulations Directorate. The UK is one of the safest places in Europe for consumers and we are working to maintain and improve that position.

Departmental Contracts

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of the bids made for contracts awarded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: All specifications for contracts relating to the Department's estate include environmental clauses reflecting the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. Bidders are required to provide method statements detailing how they will perform the contract to deliver their environmental commitments and bids are evaluated against these requirements.
	The Department's ICT procurement is undertaken via a central contract which provides for full consideration of environmental risk during the procurement of products and services supplied to the Department, together with compliance with EU Directives and EN ISO 9001–2000 for the disposal and recycling of IT equipment.

Departmental Estate

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total floor space area is of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate comprises 94,289 sq. metres of leased office accommodation. In addition the Department retains the Government freehold on three sites totalling 87,612 of building space which are under lease to research organisations.
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 22 July 2005, regarding the total floor space area of buildings owned and leased by the Patent Office. The Patent Office owns Concept House, the Headquarters and Main building, which is 15,589 square metres. The Office also leases two warehouses with a combined floor space of 4,846 square metres. In addition the Patent Office occupies 781 square metres of Government buildings, Newport and 1473 square metres of Harmsworth House, London under MOTOs (Memorandum of Terms of Occupation) from the ONS and the Charity Commission respectively.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	The total floor space area of buildings owned by Companies House is 29,000M 2 . The total floor space area leased is 4,200M 2 .
	Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding the total floor space are of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by NWML.
	The total floor space area for NWML, including office, primary circulation, laboratories & plantroom is 4481 sq. metres.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (996/2005) asking what the total floor space area is of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by this agency.
	All of The Insolvency Service's buildings are leased. The total floor space area is 29,530 square metres.

Departmental Estate

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what he has identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of the estate of his Department.

Alan Johnson: The sustainable development aspects relating to the operation of the estate have been assessed and are recorded within the ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System.
	Of the 212 environmental aspects only three fall into the significant range within the assessments. Two of these are waste related, the third is related to the energy consumed to provide heat, light and energy to the buildings.

Departmental IT Projects

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what computerisation or IT failures have occurred in projects managed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the contracted cost of the project was in each case; and what estimate he has made of the (a) direct and (b) indirect costs of failure or breakdown in each case.

Alan Johnson: Since 1997 the Department of Trade and Industry (excluding agencies) has experienced one significant computerisation or IT failure in a project managed by the Department.
	Personnel records system project.
	Contracted total cost of project £750,000.
	Contract terminated in February 1999 before project completion.
	An estimate of costs was made as part of a settlement agreed with the supplier which is subject to a confidentiality agreement. The release of details related to the agreed settlement would prejudice commercial interests.

Departmental Paper

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures he has put in place to ensure that his Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Alan Johnson: It is DTI policy that all paper purchased for copying paper and that for printed publications complies with the targets met by DEFRA. Those targets have been achieved.
	The DTI's office supplies contractor is required to provide an 80/20 recycled green product for all copy paper. The DTI publications unit specify that all publications generated by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Departmental Paper

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by his Department in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 was from recycled sources and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained in each case.

Alan Johnson: It is DTI HQ Policy that all paper purchased for copying paper and that for printed publications complies with the targets met by Defra. Those targets have been achieved.
	The DTI's office supplies contractor is required to provide an 80/20 recycled green product for all copy paper. The DTI publications unit specify that all publications generated by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	During 2003–04, all copier and printed publication paper purchased from framework suppliers was from a recycled source and compliant to the Defra target. The post-consumer content such paper contained was a minimum of 75 per cent.

Departmental Paper

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what date his Department expects to implement in full the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications bought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Alan Johnson: It is DTI HQ Policy that all paper purchased for copying paper and that for printed publications complies with the targets met by Defra. The targets have been achieved.
	DTI's office supplies contractor is required to provide 80/20 mix recycled green product for all copy paper. The DTI HQ publications unit specify that all publications generated by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Departmental Paper

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled and post-consumer recycled content of each paper.

Alan Johnson: It is DTI HQ policy that all paper purchased for copying paper and that for printed publications complies with the targets met by Defra. These have been met.
	The DTI HQ office supplies contractor, Office Depot, provide Niceday 3500 which is an 80/20 recycled green product for all copier paper. Office Depot also supply Niceday own brand envelopes manufactured from recycled materials. Any bespoke stationery supplied under this contract is Conquer l00gsm made with recycled paper.
	The DTI HQ publications unit specify that all publications generated by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres.

Alan Johnson: The Department is responsible for no vehicles.

Departmental Vehicles

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what change there has been in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from his Department against a baseline year of 2003–04.

Alan Johnson: For the year of 2004–05 and against a baseline year of 2003–04 there was a 10.25 per cent. reduction in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from my Department.

Departmental Vehicles

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what change there has been in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from his Department against a baseline year of (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) In the year of 2004–05 there was a 10.25 per cent. reduction in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from my Department against a baseline year of 2003–04.
	(b) For the year 2005–06, data is not yet available to establish the reduction in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from my Department against a baseline year of 2004–05.

Departmental Water Usage

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry at which of his Department's sites he has identified opportunities for significant water savings.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate comprises of 11 locations all of which have had water saving assessments and water saving initiatives have been put into place appropriate to the size of the sites. Water consumption data is collected and reported on monthly and is included within the overall departmental sustainable development returns.
	Overall the DTI HQ estate has experienced a reduction in total water consumption between April 2002 and March 2005 of 34 per cent. and a reduction in consumption per capita of 20 per cent.

Departmental Water Usage

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what change there has been in water consumption by his Department between 31 March 2002 and 31 March 2005.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate has experienced a reduction in total water consumption between April 2002 and March 2005 of 34 per cent. and a reduction in consumption per capita of 20 per cent.

Departmental Water Usage

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what change there was in water consumption by his Department between 2002 and 31 March 2005.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate has experienced a reduction in total water consumption between April 2002 and March 2005 of 34 per cent. and a reduction in consumption per capita of 20 per cent.

Departmental Water Usage

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at which non office sites on his Department's estates he has identified opportunities for significant water savings.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate comprises of only two small non office locations both of which, have had water saving assessments and water saving initiatives have been put into place appropriate to the size of the site. Water consumption data is collected and reported on monthly and is included within the overall Departmental Sustainable Development returns.
	Overall the DTI HQ estate has experienced a reduction in total water consumption between April 2002 and March 2005 of 34 per cent. and a reduction in consumption per capita of 20 per cent.

Digital Television

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry what estimate he has made of the number of televisions which will be disposed of as household waste following the transfer to digital transmission.

Alun Michael: All electrical equipment would be disposed of in the natural course of events. Digital switchover itself does not require any equipment to be thrown away, but its timing may affect the timing of disposal of some equipment such as rarely used televisions that people choose not to adapt. DTI and Defra are commissioning research to model any changes in patterns of waste disposal generated by switchover now that the timescale has been determined. DCMS and DTI will continue to work with Digital UK to ensure that consumer communications do not encourage unnecessary disposal of television equipment.

Energy Efficiency

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve those targets.

Alan Johnson: DTI are working toward achieving the energy efficiency targets expressed in the framework for sustainable development, Part E—Energy. The targets set are to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings on the estate by 15 per cent. in terms of KWH usage and that used per square metre by 2010–11.
	The DTI London HQ estate is currently being reduced by approximately 30 per cent. as the result of a major rationalisation programme to make more efficient use of our accommodation with significant associated reductions in the Department's overall energy usage.
	The Department has implemented a number of energy efficiency initiatives since the target was published. The main strategy is to gain efficiencies as a result of the estate strategy to reduce the physical size of the estate and the number of buildings combined with continuing investment in the remaining buildings in energy efficiency projects to improve lighting and environmental controls as well as occupant awareness.

Energy Efficiency

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what targets he has set for improving energy efficiency in his Department; and how he intends to achieve these targets.

Alan Johnson: DTI are working toward achieving the energy efficiency targets expressed in the framework for sustainable development, Part E—Energy. The targets set are to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings on the estate by 15 per cent. in terms of KWH usage and that used per square metre by 2010–11.
	The DTI London HQ estate is currently being reduced by approximately 30 per cent. as the result of a major rationalisation programme to make more efficient use of our accommodation with significant associated reductions in the Department's overall energy usage.
	The Department has implemented a number of energy efficiency initiatives since the target was published. The main strategy is to gain efficiencies as a result of the estate strategy to reduce the physical size of the estate and the number of buildings combined with continuing investment in the remaining buildings in energy efficiency projects to improve lighting and environmental controls as well as occupant awareness.

Energy Efficiency

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has come from renewable sources in each year from 1997.

Alan Johnson: The Department purchases electricity from renewable sources equating to an average of 32.3 per cent. for the period 1999–2000 to 2004–05, for its HQ estate requirement compared to a target of 10 per cent. by 2008.
	
		
			  Percentage electricity from renewable source 
		
		
			 1997–98 Not bought 
			 1998–99 Not bought 
			 1999–2000 26 
			 2000–01 26 
			 2001–02 34 
			 2002–03 36 
			 2003–04 35 
			 2004–05 37

Energy Efficiency

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has come from renewable sources in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The Department purchases electricity from renewable sources equating to an average of 32.3 per cent. for the period 1999–2000 to 2004–05, of its HQ estate requirement compared to a target of 10 per cent. by 2008.
	
		
			  Percentage electricity from renewable source 
		
		
			 1997–98 Not bought 
			 1998–99 Not bought 
			 1999–2000 26 
			 2000–01 26 
			 2001–02 34 
			 2002–03 36 
			 2003–04 35 
			 2004–05 37 
		
	
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	House of Commons Parliamentary Question: 2005/1063
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 22 July 2005, regarding the proportion of electricity used by the Patent Office since 1997. During the period 1997–2003 none of the Patent Office Estate used electricity from renewable sources. Since then Concept House, the Patent Office Headquarters and Main building, uses 100% green" electricity. The remainder of the estate are still using electricity from fossil fuels.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	The annual spend by Companies House on electricity up until April 2000 and water and sewerage until April 2001 is not readily available due to a change in monitoring procedures. Figures from 2000 to 2005 for Cardiff, and from 2004 when we opened our Nantgarw office are as follows:
	
		
			 April to March Cardiff Nantgarw 
		
		
			 Electricity 
			 2000–01 203,732 n/a 
			 2001–02 190,830 n/a 
			 2002–03 158,510 n/a 
			 2003–04 175,791 n/a 
			 2004–05 214,850 50,677 
			 Water and sewerage 
			 2001–02 42,207 n/a 
			 2002–03 27,268 n/a 
			 2003–04 17,899 n/a 
			 2004–05 20,988 899 
		
	
	Our Cardiff office has been a 100 per cent. renewable electricity source since July 2001, and our Nantgarw offices is just at the end of the first year of brown energy. We are however negotiating to have it moved to green energy from October 2005.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (1063/2005) asking what proportion of the electricity used in this agency's buildings has come from renewable sources in each year since 1997.
	The Insolvency Service has not yet bought electricity from renewable sources because it is more expensive than electricity available from other sources. It does not therefore represent value for money. My agency has however installed photovoltaic cells on the roof of our headquarters building here at Bloomsbury Street. Electricity generated by these cells currently accounts for 2.5% of our annual use at this building. The Insolvency Service is therefore making a significant contribution in this way to the sustainable development agenda.
	Letter from Dr. Jeff Llewellyn to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding the proportion of electricity used by Agency buildings that has come from renewable sources, in each year since 1997.
	The National Weights & Measures Laboratory (NWML) operates on the same site as the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) at Teddington. Since 1996 the operations of NPL have been subject to a Management Contract run by NPL Management. Historically, NWML has always paid NPL for its share of the electricity costs and benefits from economies of scale associated with the NPL Electricity Contract. We are invoiced by NPL Management, and do not see the invoice from the electricity supplier. NPL Management has told us that the invoice from the supplier does not give any indication what percentage of electricity comes from renewable sources.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: The Department is fully committed to the equality and diversity agenda and has policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds.
	The cost of providing information relating to every diversity and equality event held in the Department over the last five years is not readily available and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. As much of the departmental diversity training is integrated into all other training the entire cost for that element cannot be calculated.
	The following costs are extracted (where figures are available-from 2001 only) from the Department's training providers and HR Diversity/Equality training events:
	
		£
		
			 Event 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Total cost 
		
		
			 Diversity training (various) 6,580 11,220 8,287 9,400 66,485 101,972 
			 Equal opportunities action plans: — — 13,895 70,838 53,044 137,777 
			 Cabinet office disability bursary scheme 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 20,000 28,000 
			 Diversity week 10,000 25,000 — — — 35,000 
			 Valuing ability mentoring programme- for people with  disabilities — — — 10,000 10,000 20,000 
			 Childcare/nursery scheme n/a n/a 30,957.16 95,096.23 60,338.96 186,392.35 
			 Conferences for disability/ethnic/lesbian/gay staff n/a n/a 25,000 7,000 n/a 32,000 
			 Specialist equipment for disabled staff n/a n/a 17,857.80 73,407.98 30,659.53 121,925.31

Grocery Trade

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations his Department has received in 2005 from (a) members of the public and (b) individual companies on (i) Tesco's market share, (ii) mergers and acquisitions in the grocery trade and (iii)the Retailer Code of Practice; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Ministers at the DTI have received a considerable number of representations from members of the public, pressure groups and companies on the structure of the grocery market and the Supermarket Code of Practice.
	Competition in the supermarket and grocery sectors is a matter for the independent competition authorities, in this case the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). On mergers, the OFT's role is to refer situations where it believes there is likely to be a substantial lessening of competition to the Competition Commission (CC). It is for the CC to decide whether the merger should be allowed to proceed. The OFT assesses each merger on a case by case basis, so it is not possible to say whether any future mergers will be referred to the CC.
	The Supermarkets Code of Practice (the Code) only concerns transactions between supermarkets and their direct suppliers. Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are statutorily bound by the Supermarkets Code while Morrisons has volunteered to abide by it. The OFT reviewed the operation of the Code in 2003–04 and again in 2005. On 3 August they published a report on the final outcome of their 2005 review. This is available on their website at http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/200S/l46–05.htm

Industrial Tribunals

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases were brought against each local authority dealt with by industrial tribunals in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were successful.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In 2004–05 86,181 claims were brought to an employment tribunal. The Employment Tribunals Service does not collate statistics on the number of claims brought against specific respondents, such as local authorities, nor how many of these were successful.

Matched Funding

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1088W, on matched funding, how much of the funding came from the Government in each year.

Alun Michael: The responsibility for identifying and securing match funding for projects supported by the European Structural Funds rests with the project sponsor. Although the Government provide a significant proportion of the match funding referred to in the answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1088W, the Government's contribution is only recorded at project level and an overall figure could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Patent Applications

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many patent applications have been subject to secrecy orders in each of the last 10 years; and how many have subsequently been declassified.

Alan Johnson: A table of the figures requested is provided as follows. To put the figures in context, the Patent Office received 29,835 patent applications in 2003 and 28,223 in 2004.
	
		Patent applications
		
			  UK originated applications Foreign applications Total applications Declassified 
		
		
			 1996 87 25 112 6 
			 1997 64 33 97 13 
			 1998 51 19 70 21 
			 1999 94 37 131 53 
			 2000 67 20 87 43 
			 2001 86 16 102 39 
			 2002 117 10 127 46 
			 2003 90 15 105 33 
			 2004 73 4 77 26 
			 2005(18) 32 4 36 6 
			 Total 761 183 944 286 
		
	
	(18)To July.

Petroleum/Oil Supplies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the effects on competition in petroleum retailing of adopting a refiner importer system for oil stocking arrangements.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK meets its international obligations to hold stocks of oil for use in the event of disruption of supplies by imposing obligations on commercial companies. We have always aimed to set obligations so as to impose an equal additional burden on different parts of the industry as far as possible. We intend to continue doing so under our proposed new system where the obligations will be based on products from refineries or entering the UK as imports.

Petroleum/Oil Supplies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received relating to compulsory stocking arrangements for oil and petroleum.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department held a public consultation last year seeking views on the future of the UK system for holding emergency stocks of oil in the event of a major international supply disruption. We received 14 responses from refiners, importers, retailers and other affected sectors. We are working closely with the industry to agree a system which will continue to be robust in future as the UK's obligations to hold emergency stocks increase as we become a net importer.

Petroleum/Oil Supplies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the merits of a not-for-profit agency to administer oil storage obligations; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK meets its international obligations to hold stocks of oil for use in the event of disruption of supplies by imposing obligations on commercial companies. The release of stocks following Hurricane Katrina has shown that the UK system works well.
	As part of the recent public consultation on the future of the UK system, members of the industry have proposed a system where they would work collectively through an agency to ensure that the stocking obligations are met. We have agreed to work with the industry in considering the long-term potential of this solution.

Phoenix Fund

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what grants have been made to (a) Leeds and (b) Leeds West from the Phoenix Fund.

Alun Michael: The Phoenix Fund has provided a total of £250,000 for activities wholly in Leeds. It is not possible to identify separately the proportion of that funding that relates to Leeds West.
	In addition, the fund has provided £1,470,180 for activities that have included Leeds, although not exclusively. It is not possible to identify separately the proportion of that amount that relates to Leeds or Leeds West.

Post Offices (Hemel Hempstead)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of local post offices in Hemel Hempstead constituency.

Barry Gardiner: Decisions relating to the future of individual post offices are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd.

Regional Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) non-departmental public bodiesand (b) executive agencies within the remit of his Department have regional offices based on the Government Offices for the Regions' regional structure; and when the regional offices were established in each case.

Alun Michael: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her question on 23 March 2005, Official Report, column 824.

Retailer Code of Practice

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research his Department has (a) commissioned, and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of the Retailer Code of Practice.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Competition in the supermarket and grocery sectors is a matter for the independent competition authorities. In this case the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The Supermarkets Code of Practice (the Code) was introduced following the Competition Commission's (CC) report on Supermarkets: a report on the supply of groceries from multiple stores" (published 10 October 2000). The Supermarkets Code only concerns transactions between supermarkets and their direct suppliers. Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco are statutorily bound by the Supermarkets Code while Morrisons has volunteered to abide by it.
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) reviewed the operation of the Code in 2003–04 and again in 2005. On 3 August they published a report on the final outcome of their 2005 review. This is available on their website at http://www.oft.gov.uk/News/Press+releases/2005/146– 05.htm.

Service Liberalisations

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what consultations his Department has had with (a) other EU member states, (b) the European Commission and (c) the European Trade Commissioner, with regard to the EU offer of service liberalisations to the World Trade Organisation;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library (a) the EU offer of service liberalisations being tabled to the World Trade Organisation by 31 May and (b) UK submissions to that offer.

Ian Pearson: The EC revised offer was tabled in the WTO on 2 June 2005. The offer may be accessed online on the DG-Trade website at the following website address—http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/sectoral/services/wto_nego/index_en.htm
	I will place a copy of the EC revised offer in the Libraries of the House.
	In the months leading up to the tabling of the revised offer, there were extensive discussions in the Article 133 Committee in Brussels on the preparation of the revised offer. These discussions involved the Commission and all member states and final version submitted to the WTO takes account of comments received from the UK and other member states on the draft.

Service Liberalisations

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that future UK submissions for EU offers to the World Trade Organisation will be subject in advance to scrutiny by either the Trade and Industry Select Committee or the European Scrutiny Committee; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Under the Common Commercial Policy, the European Commission has the right of initiative in respect of trade policy. It consults all EU member states on its proposals, both through formal meetings and informal discussions, and reflects the comments it receives in the submissions it makes to the WTO.
	To avoid the risk of undermining the community's negotiating position it is not the Government's policy to provide for advance parliamentary scrutiny of UK submissions on EU negotiating positions within the WTO. However, the Government ensures that the WTO negotiating process is as transparent as possible by other means such as ministerial statements on the outcome of important WTO meetings and by contributing to inquiries by committees of both Houses on WTO matters (for example, the Department of Trade and Industry has made a full contribution to the current inquiry by the Trade and Industry Select Committee into the WTO's Services and NAMA negotiations). Furthermore, proposals for community legislation relating to WTO agreement are subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the existing scrutiny arrangements for EU legislation.

State Aid

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the occasions since 1 May 1997 when the Government have been challenged in European Courts over state aid; and which cases the Government won.

Ian Pearson: There have been no direct challenges to the UK Government on state aid in the European Courts since 1 May 1997.

Statutory Paid Holiday

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) UK business and (b) worker productivity of increasing the minimum amount of statutory paid holiday available to workers in the UK to 20 days per year, exclusive of bank holidays;
	(2)  when he plans to introduce legislation to increase the minimum amount of statutory paid holiday available to workers in the UK to 20 days per year, exclusive of bank holidays.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government announced in the manifesto we have introduced, for the first time, an entitlement for every employee to four weeks' paid holiday, and we propose to extend this by making it additional to bank holiday entitlement." This will be on a pro-rata basis for those working part-time.
	As announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 14 September, we are taking a power in the forthcoming Work and Families Bill to enable us to put this commitment into effect. A full and extensive consultation with stakeholders, in line with better regulation principles, will be undertaken before making formal proposals.
	We will of course publish an initial Regulatory Impact Assessment when the Bill is introduced, but there are likely to be a range of alternatives or variations emerging during consultation.

Sustainable Development

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The DTI HQ estate incorporates green procurement policies in the sourcing of timber and timber products when used on and in the construction of departmental building projects.
	All construction timber and timber products are procured specifying the point of origin must be from a sustainable source and certified as FSC or similar.

Tariffs

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average most favoured nation tariff (a) applied by the EU on imports from and (b) applied on EU exports to each of its significant trading partner countries is.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	
		Weighted average tariffs applied by the EU on imports from its main trade partners—2003 -- Percentage
		
			  MFN Effectively applied 
		
		
			 United States 2.0 2.0 
			 China 4.1 2.4 
			 Switzerland 2.4 0.2 
			 Japan 4.0 4.0 
			 Russian Federation 1.1 0.5 
			 Norway 1.6 0.2 
			 Turkey 8.1 0.1 
			 Korea, Rep. 3.6 3.6 
		
	
	Source:
	WITS database
	
		Weighted average tariffs applied by the EU's main trade partners—2003(19) -- Percentage
		
			  MFN Effectively applied 
		
		
			 United States 2.1 2.1 
			 China 8.7 8.7 
			 Switzerland 0 0 
			 Japan 3.6 3.6 
			 Russian Federation 8.8 8.8 
			 Norway 0.7 0.4 
			 Turkey 4.5 0.4 
			 Korea, Rep. 8.1 8.1 
		
	
	(19)Korea and Russia 2002.
	Source:
	WITS database

Telephone Inquiries

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facilities his Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Alan Johnson: The Department of Trade and Industry has a contract with an external telephone translation service that enables it, by means of a three-way conference call, to handle telephone calls in Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic.

Telephone Numbers

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the likely impact Ofcom's proposed changes to (a) the 0870 number range and (b) 0845 numbers could have on those industries which rely on these number ranges to fund or subsidise the cost of providing other services to consumers;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the likely impact Ofcom's proposal to remove revenue sharing of the 0870 number range will have on the Number Translation Service industry;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the likely impact Ofcom's proposal to maintain the current price per minute rates for 0845 numbers for a two year period will have on internet service providers' ability to take advantage of British Telecom's next generation network roll-out;
	(4)  if he will bring forward measures to (a) help consumers understand the pricing of calls to Number Translation Services and (b) ensure providers who charge more than the standard fixed line rate make a pre-announcement to consumers using their services.

Alun Michael: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom). Ofcom is the independent regulator for the communications sector, deriving its main powers and duties directly from statute rather than by delegation from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and accountable to Parliament in its own right. Accordingly, my officials have asked the chief executive officer of Ofcom to reply to the hon. Member and to send me a copy of his response. Copies of the chief executive's letter will also be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Timber Procurement

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the refurbishment projects in his Department that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that timber for these projects will be procured from legal and sustainable sources; and whether guidance will be issued to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Alan Johnson: My Department is currently undertaking a programme to rationalise its central London Estate, which includes refurbishment and improvements to offices at 151 Buckingham Palace road, Kingsgate House and 10 Victoria street in SW1. This will allow the DTI to reduce its accommodation by approximately 30 per cent.
	The DTI HQ estate incorporates green procurement policies in the sourcing of timber and timber products when used on and in the construction of departmental building projects.
	All construction timber and timber products are procured specifying the point of origin must be from a sustainable source and certified as FSC or similar.

UK Tyre Manufacturers

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many UK tyre manufacturers have relocated to bases in (a) Eastern Europe, (b) China and (c) South Korea in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: The Department does not keep comprehensive records of company relocations.

Unwanted Text Messages

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what facilities are available for people to report unwanted text messages advertising goods and services.

Alun Michael: The Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, which came into force in the UK on 11 December 2003, introduced statutory controls on unsolicited direct marketing text messages. The rules require that unsolicited direct marketing text messages shall only be sent with the prior consent of the addressee unless they have previously given a mobile number to the sender in the context of purchasing a product or service.
	The Information Commissioner has responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations and considers complaints about breaches. A breach of an enforcement notice is a criminal offence subject to a fine of up to £5000 in a magistrates court. Complaints can be directed to the Information Commissioner's Office at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF, Telephone: 01625 545 700, Fax: 01625 524 510, Email: mail@ico.gsi.gov.uk and further information is available at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk or the Libraries of the House.

Utility Costs

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on (i) electricity use and (ii) water and sewerage services in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The running costs for DTI HQ estate in respect of electricity, water and sewerage since 1997 is based on available information. The figures are as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  Electricity Water and sewerage 
		
		
			 2003–04 957 90 
			 2002–03 942 137 
			 2001–02 855 137 
			 2000–01 929 171 
			 1999–2000 1,036 165 
			 1998–99 917 151 
			 1997–98 1,065 Not available 
		
	
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 22 July 2005, regarding the annual spending by the Patent Office on electricity and water and sewerage from 1997. The answer is attached.
	
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Electric  
			 Government Buildings 50,263.53 38,852.91 29,278.90 38,102.90 37,186.71 
			 Concept House 151,614.59 136,510.18 131,115.58 129,185.34 120,189.06 
			 Nine Mile Point 21,863.93 19,831.33 19,263.30 20,336.82 17,087.71 
			 Total 223,742.05 195,194.42 179,657.78 187,625.06 174,463.48 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–003 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Electric 
			 Government Buildings 44,742.53 31,570.36 32,423.57 35,249.34 
			 Concept House 130,168.49 115,206.62 117,780.42 136,191.69 
			 Nine Mile Point 15,551.56 17,200.70 19,175.72 20,502.34 
			 Total 190,462.58 163,977.68 169,379.71 191,943.37 
		
	
	
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–001 
		
		
			 Water  
			 Government Buildings 35,114.01 43,408.46 9,582.51 19,469.81 14,775.21 
			 Concept House 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nine Mile Point 2,416.46 1,558.75 1,032.05 880.01 227.74 
			 Total 37,530.47 (20)44,967.21 10,614.56 20,349.82 15,002.95 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–003 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Water 
			 Government Buildings 23,511.00 14,152.37 22,968.06 26,939.27 
			 Concept House 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nine Mile Point 915.70 1,039.83 1,077.72 716.50 
			 Total 24,426.70 15,192.20 24,045.78 27,655.77 
		
	
	(20)Includes overpayment which was credited in 1998–99.
	The Concept House water and sewage is part of the service charge paid to ONS who pay the rate for the whole site the Patent Office share is usually about £1,900 per month.
	Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding annual spending on (i)electricity use and (ii) water and sewerage services in each year since 1997.
	
		NWML spend on electricity for the period 2000–2005
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2000–01 26 
			 2001–02 18 
			 2002–03 14 
			 2003–04 18 
			 2004–05 56 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures for 1997–2000 are not easily available.
	Charges in respect of water and sewerage services are included in service charges to the managers of the Teddington site on which NWML sits.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Edward Davey, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (965/2005) asking about annual spend by the agency on (i) electricity use and (ii) water and sewerage services in each year since 1997.
	The figures are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Electricity Water 
		
		
			 2004–05 230,245 26,662 
			 2003–04 229,625 21,093 
			 2002–03 198,948 18,910 
			 2001–02 204,446 19,917 
			 2000–01 238,856 19,515 
			 1999–2000 192,878 21,290 
		
	
	This data excludes any spend on these utilities that might be included in a landlord's service charge.
	Figures before 1999–2000 are no longer available.

Utility Costs

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual spending by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies has been on (i) water and sewerage services and (ii) electricity use in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: The running costs for DTI HQ estate in respect of electricity, water and sewerage since 1997 is based on available information. The figures are as follows.
	
		£000
		
			  Electricity Water and sewerage 
		
		
			 2003–04 957 90 
			 2002–03 942 137 
			 2001–02 855 137 
			 2000–01 929 171 
			 1999–2000 1,036 165 
			 1998–99 917 151 
			 1997–98 1,065 n/a 
		
	
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 22 July 2005, regarding the annual spending by the Patent Office on electricity and water and sewerage from 1997.
	The answer is attached.
	
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Electric 
			 Government buildings 50,263.53 38,852.91 29,278.90 38,102.90 
			 Concept House 151,614.59 136,510.18 131,115.58 129,185.34 
			 Nine Mile Point 21,863.93 19,831.33 19,263.30 20,336.82 
			 Total 223,742.05 195,194.42 179,657.78 187,625.06 
			  
			 Water 
			 Government buildings 35,114.01 (21)43,408.46 9,582.51 19,469.81 
			 Concept House 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nine Mile Point 2,416.46 1,558.75 1,032.05 880.01 
			 Total 37,530.47 44,967.21 10,614.56 20,349.82 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Electric  
			 Government buildings 37,186.71 44,742.53 31,570.36 32,423.57 35,249.34 
			 Concept House 120,189.06 130,168.49 115,206.62 117,780.42 136,191.69 
			 Nine Mile Point 17,087.71 15,551.56 17,200.70 19,175.72 20,502.34 
			 Total 174,463.48 190,462.58 163,977.68 169,379.71 191,943.37 
			   
			 Water  
			 Government buildings 14,775.21 23,511.00 14,152.37 22,968.06 26,939.27 
			 Concept House 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 
			 Nine Mile Point 227.74 915.70 1,039.83 1,077.72 716.50 
			 Total 15,002.95 24,426.70 15,192.20 24,045.78 27,655.77 
		
	
	(21)Includes overpayment which was credited in 1998–99
	Note:
	The Concept House water and sewage is part of the service charge paid to ONS who pay the rate for the whole site the Patent Office share is usually about £1,900 per month.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	The annual spend by Companies House on water and sewerage until April 2001 and electricity until April 2000, is not available due to a change in monitoring procedures. Figures from 2000 to 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Water and sewerage  
			 April 2001-March 2002 42,207 
			 April 2002-March 2003 27,268 
			 April 2003-March 2004 17,899 
			 April 2004-March 2005 21,887 
			   
			 Electricity  
			 April 2000-March 2001 203,732 
			 April 2001-March 2002 190,830 
			 April 2002-March 2003 158,510 
			 April 2003-March 2004 175,791 
			 April 2004-March 2005 265,527 
		
	
	Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding annual spending on (i)electricity use and (ii) water & sewerage services in each year since 1997.
	NWML spend on electricity for the period 2000–05 was:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2000–01 26,000 
			 2001–02 18,000 
			 2002–03 14,000 
			 2003–04 18,000 
			 2004–05 56,000 
		
	
	Figures for 1997–2000 are not easily available.
	Charges in respect of water & sewerage services are included in service charges to the Managers of the Teddington site on which NWML sits.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (1014/2005) asking about annual spend by the agency on (i) water and sewerage services and (ii) electricity use in each year since 1997.
	The figures are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Water Electricity 
		
		
			 2004–05 26,662 230,245 
			 2003–04 21,093 229,625 
			 2002–03 18,910 198,948 
			 2001–02 19,917 204,446 
			 2000–01 19,515 238,856 
			 1999–2000 21,290 192,878 
		
	
	This data excludes any spend on these utilities that might be covered in a landlord's service charge.
	Figures before 1999/00 are no longer available.

Video-conferencing Units

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many video-conferencing units are installed in (a) his Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number of such units.

Alan Johnson: There are a total of 22 video conferencing systems deployed across the Department's offices. 65 per cent. of the Department's offices have video conferencing systems installed including all the main HQ buildings. There are no plans to purchase additional video conferencing units.
	Letter from Ron Marchant to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	House of Commons Parliamentary Question: 2005/993
	I am responding to this parliamentary question, tabled on 22 July 2005, regarding How many video-conference units are installed within each agency of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Department.
	The Patent Office has 2 Video Suites, 1 in Concept House Newport, the other in Harmsworth House, London. There are no plans to increase the number of Video Conferencing units that we have as current facilities fully meet our requirements.
	Letter from Desmond Flynn to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of The Insolvency Service in respect of your question (993/2005) about video-conferencing. You were asking how many video-conferencing units are installed in the agency, what percentage of its offices have such facilities, and what plans there are to increase the number of such units.
	The Insolvency Service has video-conferencing units installed at both of its headquarters buildings—21 Bloomsbury Street in London and Ladywood House in Birmingham. There are no units installed in the other 35 offices used by the agency. Therefore while video-conferencing units are installed in around 6% of the agency's offices, 40% of the agency's staff are accommodated in the two buildings which have them.
	At present there are no plans to increase the number of these units.
	Letter from Claire Clancy to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	I am responding to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on behalf of Companies House, which is an Executive Agency of the DTI.
	Companies House has four offices in total. Our headquarters in Cardiff office has two video-conferencing units, our Nantgarw office has one, as does our Edinburgh office. We do not have a unit in our London office, and have no plans to increase the number in any of our offices.
	Letter from Iain MacGregor to Mr. Alan Reid, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has asked me to reply on behalf of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory (NWML) to your question regarding the number of video conferencing units installed at NWML, & whether there are plans to increase the number of such units.
	NWML has no video conferencing units installed, with no plans to install such a unit. Thus NWML submits a nil return.

Watermark Project

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department has joined the Watermark project.

Alan Johnson: Whilst the DTI is not currently a member of the Watermark project we have put in place all the appropriate measures of benchmarking usage, measurement of performance, reporting of data, consumption and invoicing verification. The Department's management of its water usage is incorporated into its environmental management system.
	Overall the DTI HQ estate has experienced a reduction in total water consumption between April 2002 and March 2005 of 34 per cent. and a reduction in consumption per capita of 20 per cent.

Welsh Legislation

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he intends to implement Paragraph 3.12 of the White Paper, Better Governance for Wales" (Cm 6582), in respect of any Bill he introduces in the current Session of Parliament.

Barry Gardiner: The DTI intends to implement the Government's policy as stated in paragraph 3.12 of the White Paper Better Governance for Wales" Cm 6582. The Department is in discussion with the Assembly Government on the issues concerned.

Wind Energy

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what relative priority the Government places on financial support for wind energy options as compared with (a) other renewable options including nuclear power and (b) conventional energy options; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's main mechanism for supporting renewable energy is the Renewables Obligation. The Renewables Obligation, which requires electricity suppliers to source a proportion of their electricity sales from eligible sources of renewable energy, is technology neutral. However, as a market-based mechanism, the Obligation rewards the most cost effective renewable energy sources. As wind energy is the most economically competitive form of renewable technology with scope for expansion, it is likely that most new renewable capacity between now and 2010 will be wind generation (both onshore and offshore).
	Information on DTI and Research Council expenditure on renewables, clean fossil fuels and nuclear was set out in my reply, on 1 September 2005, Official Report, columns 2262–68W, to the hon. Member for Leominster (Bill Wiggin).
	Nuclear power is not a renewable source of energy.

SCOTLAND

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office currently has no services provided by contractors based in other EU member states. The Office awards all contracts in line with the UK's objective of achieving value for money, and in line with EU treaty obligations on transparency and free movement of goods and services.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each of the last 12 months.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office has incurred no expenditure on external media relations in the last 12 months.

WALES

Correspondence

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Peter Hain: In accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993, the Wales Office has a Welsh Language Scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, when someone writes to, or e-mails, us in Welsh, we reply in Welsh. The target time for replying to correspondence in Welsh, and the type of reply sent, are exactly the same as for correspondence in English.
	With regard to Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, we would make every reasonable effort to reply to correspondence in the language in which it is received.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office is fully committed to the equality and diversity agenda and operates under the umbrella of the Department for Constitutional Affairs who have policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds.
	The Wales Office staff have had available to them, since June 2003, the resources of the Department for Constitutional Affairs dedicated Corporate Diversity Team and before that the National Assembly for Wales Equality and Diversity Team, so costs are not separately identified.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Peter Hain: None.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Peter Hain: The Department for Constitutional Affairs publishes quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcomes of requests. These reports cover all Departments of State, including the Wales Office.
	The first of these updates, covering the period January to March, was published on 23 June 2005 and can be found on both the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/statsjan-mar05.htm and in the House Library. The next bulletin is due in the autumn of this year. An annual report is also to be published in early 2006.

Special Schools

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many special schools there are in Wales (a) in total and (b) in each constituency.

Peter Hain: There are 43 special schools in Wales. A list of such schools follows. This is broken down into parliamentary constituency areas:
	
		
			 Constituency School 
		
		
			 Aberavon Briton Ferry Special School 
			 Alyn and Deeside Ysgol Belmont 
			 Alyn and Deeside Ysgol Y Bryn 
			 Blaenau Gwent Pen-Y-Cwm Special School 
			 Brecon and Radnorshire Ysgol Penmaes 
			 Bridgend Heronsbridge School 
			 Bridgend Ysgol Bryn Castell 
			 Caernarfon Ysgol Pendalar 
			 Caernarfon Ysgol Hafod Lon 
			 Caerphilly Trinity Fields Special School 
			 Cardiff Central The Hollies Special School 
			 Cardiff North The Court Special School 
			 Cardiff North Meadowbank Special School 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth Ashgrove School 
			 Cardiff South and Penarth Ysgol Erw'r Delyn 
			 Cardiff West Riverbank Special School 
			 Cardiff West Woodlands High School 
			 Cardiff Central Ty Gwyn Special School 
			 Cardiff North Greenhill Special School 
			 Conwy Ysgol Coedmenai 
			 Conwy Ysgol Y Gogarth 
			 Cynon Valley Maesgwyn Special School 
			 Cynon Valley Park Lane Special School 
			 Delyn Ysgol Delyn 
			 Llanelli Heol Goffa Special School 
			 Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Greenfield Special School 
			 Monmouth Mounton House Special School 
			 Montgomeryshire Ysgol Cedewain 
			 Montgomeryshire Brynllywarch 
			 Neath Ysgol Hendre Special School 
			 Newport West Maes Ebbw School 
			 Pontypridd Ysgol Ty Coch 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire Portfield Special School 
			 Preseli Pembrokeshire Ysgol Rhydygors 
			 Rhondda Rhondda Special School 
			 Swansea East Penybryn Senior Special School 
			 Swansea West Ysgol Crug Glas 
			 Torfaen School, Sebastopol 
			 Vale of Clwyd Ysgol Tir Morfa 
			 Vale of Clwyd Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn 
			 Vale of Glamorgan Ysgol Maes Dyfan 
			 Wrexham St Christopher's School 
			 Ynys Mon Ysgol Bont

Telephone Inquiries

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what facilities his Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Peter Hain: In accordance with the Welsh Language Act 1993, the Wales Office has a Welsh Language Scheme. Under the terms of the scheme, the switchboard serving our Cardiff office answers with a bilingual greeting. If the caller wishes to speak Welsh, the operator will try to connect the call to a Welsh speaker who can deal with the inquiry. If no Welsh speaker is available and able to deal with the inquiry, the caller will be given the choice of a Welsh speaker ringing back, or continuing the call in English. If the caller rings on one of our direct lines but the person taking the call cannot speak Welsh, he or she will try to transfer it to a suitable Welsh speaking colleague. Again, if no-one is available, the caller will be given the choice of a Welsh speaker calling back, or continuing the call in English. There might be times when there is no Welsh speaker available who can answer the query in full, especially if it is complex or specialised. In these cases, the caller will be given the option of discussing the matter in English or writing to us in Welsh—in which case, they would receive a written reply in Welsh. The switchboard serving our London headquarters may not have Welsh speaking staff. If they receive a call from someone wishing to speak Welsh, the operator will explain that he or she cannot speak Welsh but will offer to try to connect the caller to a Welsh speaker within the department. If none of our Welsh speakers was available, the operator would explain that this was so and offer the caller the option of continuing the conversation in English, or of leaving their details so that a Welsh speaker could ring back later. We have no facilities for dealing with telephone inquiries in Scots Gaelic or Irish Gaelic.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the UK is providing for the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Hilary Benn: At the Tokyo Conference in 2002, the UK pledged £200 million over five years in development assistance to Afghanistan. At the Berlin Conference in March 2004 this pledge was increased to a total of £500 million over the same time period; by mid-2005, £360 million of this had been spent.
	DFID's Afghanistan programme for 2005–06 will channel £90 million in development assistance into the country. This programme focuses on three areas of work:
	State-building: to address the weaknesses in state institutions and to help ensure that sustainable development can be financed and delivered;
	Economic Management and Aid Effectiveness: to strengthen the public finance system;
	Livelihoods: to help reduce dependence on the opium economy and to help re-generate rural economic growth. Progress on all three is essential for creating the conditions for longer-term development.
	During President Karzai's recent visit to the UK (July 2005), DFID committed to provide £200 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund between 2005 and 2008. This fund supports the operating costs of the Government. The UK is the largest contributor to this fund. DFID has also agreed to begin planning with the Government of Afghanistan to draw up a long-term development partnership between the two Governments.
	DFID has also channelled around £160 million to Afghanistan through the European Community, the United Nations and the World Bank.

Afghanistan

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Afghanistan following the drought in 2000.

Hilary Benn: Following the South Asia drought of 2000, DFID committed £3.53 million specifically to Afghanistan. Of this, £3.51 million has been fully utilised. This included: £2.2 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide food assistance; £0.9 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies through the British Red Cross Society; £0.2 million to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for emergency relief for internally displaced persons; £0.1 million to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs to provide emergency shelter for people displaced by the drought and conflict; and £0.4 million to the WFP to provide food assistance to over 60,000 refugees in Pakistan who had arrived from Afghanistan. In addition, DFID provided regional assistance including £2 million to the WFP for of which £1.25 million was allocated to Afghanistan.
	DFID also provided £3 million to the Afghan Government's drought appeal in September 2004 to provide drinking water to populations most in need; to rehabilitate water sources such as karezes (surface catchments) and shallow wells; and to target food distributions to the rural vulnerable in the most severely affected districts.

Africa

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure aid agreed at the G8 Summit directly benefits the African people.

Hilary Benn: The G8 agreed that additional resources will be focused on low income countries which are committed to growth and poverty reduction, to democratic, accountable and transparent Government and to sound financial management. Where this is the case, it should be up to the country concerned to decide how best to use resources to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are focused on reducing poverty, improving people's access to education, health, water and sanitation.
	The G8 agreed on the importance of an effective monitoring mechanism to track progress and to help ensure delivery on the ground. Prime accountability is from each Government to its own citizens and Parliaments. At country level, mechanisms for monitoring and review will be strengthened. Internationally, the G8 agreed to strengthen the Africa Partnership Forum (APF) so that it can monitor progress effectively. This will be done on the basis of a joint action plan, which we hope will be agreed at the next meeting of the APF in April 2006.

Aid Conditionality

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what operational guidelines for departmental staff have been introduced to give effect to the policy set out in the publication Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: Rethinking Conditionality"; what changes to working practices within his Department have followed the publication of this document; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Operational guidance is being prepared,based on DFID country teams' experience of implementing the policy since its publication in March. We will consult with civil society organisations and other donors in finalising the guidance.
	The policy is re-inforcing DFID's efforts to build effective partnerships for development by supporting countries to develop their own poverty reduction plans, ensuring accountability for aid, and by making aid more predictable so that countries can rely on it in planning their budgets. The policy has confirmed that DFID will not make aid conditional on specific policy decisions by partner governments (including in sensitive economic areas such as privatisation or trade liberalisation). The policy is also ensuring that new programme agreements between DFID and partner countries are clear about theshared commitments on which our aid is based, the circumstances in which aid can be withdrawn, the impact we expect from our aid, and the way in which progress will be measured.

Asian Tsunami

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) has delivered to tsunami-affected countries since December 2004.

Hilary Benn: To date, nearly £67 million out of the £75 million allocated by DFID to meet immediate humanitarian relief needs following the tsunami, has been programmed through United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organisations and DFID direct action. This spending can be broken down into:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Red Cross Movement 3,500,000 
			 UN (some 40 organizations) 31,105,057 
			 NGOs 9,724,537 
			 DFID Indonesia Delegated Budget 8,355,489 
			 DFID Donations in Kind 10,972,138 
			 DFID Funded DEC Flights 2,083,126 
			 DFID Staff Secondments 489,000 
			 DFID Monitoring and Evaluation 165,000 
			 DFID operations project support costs 407,000 
			 Total 66,801,347 
		
	
	So far, £60 million of this has been disbursed. A Further detailed breakdown of this spending can be obtained in the document entitled A breakdown of DFID's Immediate Relief Response to the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami" which has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The balance of the £67 million will be drawn down by the recipient agencies as needed. The remaining £7 million out of the £75 million has been earmarked for disaster risk reduction initiatives in affected countries.
	DFID has also allocated £65 million to meet reconstruction needs. From this allocation, £36 million has been committed to Indonesia, of which £6 million has so far been paid out to the Multi Donor Trust Fund. A further £2 million has been committed to Sri Lanka and £3 million to India to provide technical assistance aimed at ensuring effective, transparent and equitable programming of tsunami reconstruction efforts. The remaining £24 million of the £65 million allocation for reconstruction has not yet been programmed.

Bangladesh

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Bangladesh after the floods in 1998;
	(2)  how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Bangladesh after the floods of 2004.

Gareth Thomas: Following the Bangladesh floods in 1998, DFID pledged £21 million. DFID committed a total of £22 million, which was delivered through non-government organisations, United Nation agencies and the Government of Bangladesh. We did not collate aggregate information on material or personnel within these allocations. However DFID did provide some vehicles for emergency medical care.
	In 2004 DFID pledged £29 million following the floods. This consisted of an initial commitment of £10 million, and an additional commitment of £19 million to the UN consolidated appeal and rehabilitation in August and October 2004. DFID's support was delivered through UN agencies in accordance with DFID Bangladesh disaster response operating procedures (DROP-2004), direct to the Government of Bangladesh Roads and Highways Department and the Technical Co-operation programme. DFID funded relief was implemented through our partners. Relief provided from the initial £10 million consisted of food (rice, dhal, salt and oil) and non-food—medicines, corrugated iron sheets, water purification, mosquito nets, latrine repairs, transport and distribution costs for example. The £19 million consisted of medical supplies to maternal and child centres and clinics, restoration and access to safe water and sanitation facilities, shelter, cash for work to rebuild livelihoods, food and emergency repairs to damaged roads, bridges and culverts. A breakdown of these allocations is not available.

Burma

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help provide humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced people of eastern Burma.

Gareth Thomas: The UK is the largest EU donor to Burma, with a budget of £7.4 million for 2005–06. Our country plan focuses on four key objectives: health, basic education, food security and increased prospects for successful transition to a democratic society.
	DFID is helping those who are displaced in Eastern Burma by funding organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (£500,000), and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in the Wa region (£170,000 to improve food security and help poor people find alternative livelihoods to opium production). DFID is also providing £1.8 million to support Burmese refugees in Thailand. The UK also provides support through the European Commission for the repatriation and re-integration of refugees, and support to displaced populations.
	Reaching displaced people in Eastern Burma is a challenge because international agencies have limited access to internally displaced people living in sensitive or conflict-affected areas. The International Committee of the Red Cross has gradually increased its access within Eastern Burma over the last three years. The UK continues to work closely with international organisations such as the UN to encourage the Burmese authorities to agree to increased access for development agencies.

Central America

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Central American nations after Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Gareth Thomas: The table shows how much financial aid DFID delivered to Central American nations from 1998 to 2001 and how much of this was specifically for disaster response relating to Hurricane Mitch:
	
		£ million
		
			   Total funds Funds related to Hurricane Mitch 
		
		
			 1998–99 20.15 2.77 
			 1999–2000 7.96 1.61 
			 2000–01 6.96 0.20 
			 2001–02 5.88 0.28 
		
	
	DFID did not provide any material or personnel support.

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's total spending on management consultants has been in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: Expenditure on consultancy services was as follows:
	
		
			   Cost (£ million) Percentage of DFID budget 
		
		
			 2001–02 211.6 7.2 
			 2002–03 221.8 6.7 
			 2003–04 214.6 5.4 
		
	
	Figures for 2004–05 are not yet available. We do not keep a central record of the spending on management consultants in particular and this information cannot be provided except by incurring a disproportionate cost. Contracts are awarded in open competition according to the ED Procurement Regulations, based on best value for money.

Consultants

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many consultants have been employed by his Department to investigate reproductive health issues in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; at what cost; if he will place in the Library a copy of the reports produced by such consultants; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID takes a very broad approach to sexual and reproductive health. This includes work on maternal, newborn and child health and on HIV and AIDS. DFID information systems provide data on total costs of this work, as shown in the table, without distinguishing between individual consultants and major delivery programmes contracted to consultancy firms through open competition.
	A full list of the contracts can be found in the document entitled 'DFID, Reproductive Health—Contracts issued 1999–2005' of which I have arranged for copies to be deposited in the Libraries of the House. The consultancies range from individual contracts, to the funding of multi year programmes where national and international consultants work on long-term programme management and implementation in developing countries. One example of this is the Nepal Safe Motherhood Project. This complex project helped the Government of Nepal to establish and develop their National Safe Motherhood Programme through financial and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health. This programme, which ran from 1997 to 2004 at a cost of £5.8 million has improved women's access to life saving maternal health services, e.g. emergency obstetric care.
	Reports are produced through these consultancies serving a number of purposes. Some are produced specifically for country governments, some for DFID monitoring requirements and others relate to specific technical issues. They are not held centrally and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost. However, the DFID website provides up-to-date links on key issues, www.dfid.gov.uk
	
		£
		
			  Financial year Number of Consultants Current Value of Issued Contracts 
		
		
			 1995–96 1 29,000 
			 1996–97 10 3 million 
			 1997–98 9 30.3 million 
			 1998–99 13 9.3 million 
			 1999–2000 13 2.3million 
			 2000–01 17 5.9 million 
			 2001–02 13 27 million 
			 2002–03 15 20.5 million 
			 2003–04 14 4.4 million 
			 2004–05 8 60.9 million

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many letters to his Department from hon. Members in session (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has record of the following number of letters from Members of Parliament that remain unanswered since 2004, broken down as required:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 One month old 36 
			 Two months old 16 
			 Three months old 4 
			 Four months old 0 
			 Five months old 0 
			 Over six months old 0 
		
	
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005, Official Report, columns 137–40WS.

Debt Relief (Less Developed Countries)

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to remove impediments to domestic and foreign private investment;
	(2)  whether poor countries which receive debt relief are expected to promote the development of their private sectors.

Hilary Benn: Debt relief is provided to enable countries to make faster progress towards the millennium development goals. In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, the UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed internationally. The multilateral debt stock cancellation proposed by the G8 and recently agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards. Private sector, investment and trade regulation reforms are sometimes part of the above processes (for example, in a poverty reduction strategy or where derived from national plans and in-country debate), but such economic policy choices would not be imposed on countries.

Debt Relief (Less Developed Countries)

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the adjustment of gross assistance flows by poor countries is taken into account when granting debt relief to them.

Hilary Benn: In providing debt relief under agreements such as the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, the UK abides by the HIPC standards agreed internationally. The multilateral debt stock cancellation proposed by the G8 and recently agreed at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings also uses these standards. To be eligible for such relief, a country's gross national income per capita, debt levels and national export revenues are taken into consideration, along with its macroeconomic management and commitment to poverty reduction. The level or adjustment of gross assistance flows is not considered.

Debt Relief (Less Developed Countries)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what announcements his Department has made in respect of funds (a) pledged, (b) committed and (c) actually spent or delivered to intermediaries for (i) debt relief and write off, (ii) aid programmes and (iii) other forms of financial assistance provided in support of Government policy for the assistance of less developed countries in each of the last eight years for which records are available;
	(2)  what the total amount of public funds is which has been (a) pledged, (b) committed and (c) spent for (i) debt relief and write-off, (ii) aid programmes and (iii)other forms of financial assistance for less developed countries since the commencement of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative; and when each pledge of new public funds was announced;
	(3)  how much (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral (i) aid and (ii) debt relief for developing countries the UK committed (A) before and (B) after the G7 Finance Ministers Summit in London on 10 and 11 June.

Hilary Benn: The annual Departmental Report for the Department for International Development sets out the Department's current spending plans and reports on expenditure for previous years. Each report's analysis of DFID expenditure covers: bilateral aid expenditure, including all forms of direct assistance; expenditure through multilateral institutions; DFID expenditure in support of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and the multilateral debt relief initiative, for those years in which these initiatives have been in place. The reports outline DFID's expenditure plans and do not distinguish between pledges and commitments.
	DFID's Departmental Report was first published in 1999. Copies of the report from 1999 to 2005 can be found in the Library of the House. Information on DFID expenditure is to be found in: Annex 1, Table 5 of the 1999 and 2000 reports; Annex 2, Table 10 of the 2001 report; Annex 1, Table 4 of the 2002 to 2005 reports.
	DFID's Departmental Report 2005 sets out its expenditure plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08. The Department's total planned expenditure on bilateral aid programmes and through multilateral institutions for the period 2005–06 to 2007–08 is set out in Table 1. This excludes the UK's share of the EC aid budget which is set against DFID's budget. It also excludes most UK expenditure on debt relief, although DFID's contribution to the HIPC Trust Fund is included. This is because most of our internationally agreed debt relief is provided on bilateral (government to government) debts held by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD). Bilateral debt relief that goes beyond what is required by international agreements (such as our 100 per cent. bilateral cancellation policy for HIPC) is funded by DFID. So too is multilateral debt relief, such as under the new G8 proposal and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) for non-HIPCs.
	
		Table 1: Expenditure plans -- £ million
		
			  2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Bilateral Expenditure 2,062 2,111 2,261 
			 Multilateral Expenditure 1,085 1,282 1,306 
		
	
	The HIPC initiative provides relief and cancellation of debts owed to multilateral institutions as well as debts to bilateral governments. To date, debt relief worth $56billion (£30 billion) in nominal terms has been agreed for 28 countries. Other countries are likely to enter the Initiative next year under its extended Sunset clause". The World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimate that in recent years the HIPC Initiative has freed up around $1 billion a year from debt service payments for the 28 countries that have qualified under HIPC. The UK is the second largest contributor to the HIPC Trust Fund, which assists multilateral institutions with the costs of providing debt relief under HIPC. We have pledged a total of $436 million (£240 million) to the Trust Fund ($221 million, plus $88 million of the European Commission contribution in 2000, and a further $95 million, plus $32 million of an EC contribution in 2002). The UK also contributed US$43 million (£24 million) to assist the IMF with its costs of delivering HIPC debt relief.
	On bilateral debt, the Government have cancelled the aid debts owed by the poorest countries (not just the HIPCs), worth some £1.2 billion since 1978. In 1999, theGovernment agreed to cancel 100 per cent. of bilateral debts owed by HIPC countries to the UK when these countries completed the HIPC process. Since most aid debts had already been cancelled, these were generally export credit guarantee debts. For HIPC countries, total UK debt written off so far (to August 2005) is around £1.2 billion; this includes traditional Paris Club debt treatment, as well as the application of our 100 per cent. bilateral cancellation policy under the HIPC Initiative.
	In 2000, the Government announced that it would not benefit from debt service payments from HIPC countries, and that any payments received from December 2000 would be held in trust and reimbursed to the country once it had successfully completed the HIPC process.
	In 2004 the Government proposed greater relief on debts owed by countries to international institutions. The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) began on 1 January 2005, under which we committed to pay our share, 10 per cent., of qualifying countries' debt service payments to the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank and the African Development Fund (AfDF). We expect to spend about $46 million (£25 million) on qualifying countries this financial year.
	In June 2005, the G8 Finance Ministers endorsed a proposal to cancel all the remaining debts of HIPCs to the IMF, IDA and the AfDF. When agreed by the international community, the deal will be worth about $55 billion (£30 billion) in debt stock cancellations for the current 38 HIPCs. Donors will provide about $49 billion of this over the next 40 years to IDA and AfDF to compensate for foregone reflows. The cost of debt relief at the IMF ($6.1 billion) will be financed from internal resources, although the donors have committed to provide additional resources if needed to ensure that the IMF's ability to assist poor countries is not diminished. Annual resources for poverty reduction freed up by the proposal will be around $1 billion in 2007, rising to around $1.7 billion in 2010.
	The precise costs to the UK of the G8 proposal are yet to finalised, but are likely to be about $6 billion (£3.3 billion) over the whole 40-year period of implementation. The G8's proposal, when agreed, will supersede the MDRI for HIPCs, although the UK will continue to meet its obligations under the MDRI to qualifying non-HIPC countries. Assistance under the MDRI is likely to be worth $184 million (£100 million) over the period to 2015 for currently qualifying countries, and up to $463 million (£256 million) if all potentially eligible countries qualify.
	G8 Finance Ministers also reiterated in June their continued commitment to the full implementation and financing of HIPC. The UK already exceeds its commitments under HIPC. Our commitment to HIPC and other bilateral debt cancellation policies continue and were not altered by the G8 Finance Ministers' decisions in June.

Debt Relief (Less Developed Countries)

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) press and (b) ministerial announcements his Department has released in each month of the last two years in which funds were (i) pledged and (ii) committed to contribute to (A) debt relief, (B) aid and (C) other programmes for less developed countries; and in which of these the Government committed itself to the spending of money not previously announced.

Hilary Benn: The table sets out the number of press releases issued by the Press Office of the Department for International Development for each month of the last two years in which the Department has pledged or committed funds to debt relief and other aid programmes. In all instances, this was the first time these commitments had been announced. Each ministerial announcement on allocation is normally supported by a press release.
	
		Table: Number of press releases issued by DFID press office
		
			  Debt relief commitments Other aid commitments 
		
		
			 2003   
			 July — 1 
			 August — 2 
			 September — — 
			 October — 1 
			 November — — 
			
			 2004   
			 December — — 
			 January — 5 
			 February — 1 
			 March — 4 
			 April — 2 
			 May — 5 
			 June — 2 
			 July 1 — 
			 August — 2 
			 September 2 2 
			 October — 7 
			 November — — 
			 December — 7 
			
			 2005   
			 January 1 4 
			 February 1 9 
			 March 1 1 
			 April — 4 
			 May — 4 
			 June — 1 
			 July  1 
			 August — 1 
			 September — 1

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to the Democratic Republic of the Congo after the volcanic eruptions in 2002.

Hilary Benn: Following the eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo in January 2002, the UK disbursed £1 million immediately to agencies dealing with the disaster, and indicated its preparedness to offer more. Our bilateral financial support in response to the disaster eventually totalled £1.3 million, split as follows:
	£370,000 to Merlin's Goma Emergency Response (emergency health care)
	£250,000 to the British Red Cross Goma Volcano Fund
	£397,000 to OXFAM through a UN flash appeal (water and sanitation)
	£275,000 to Save the Children for Nyiragongo Emergency Response.
	At the time of the eruptions DFID also sent two humanitarian advisers to the area to assess the situation and co-ordinate our response.
	Since then, we have followed the meetings co-ordinating scientific monitoring of the volcano and development of early warning systems (which have been in place since 2004), and those assessing the humanitarian and environmental risks, including contingency planning. We currently have a humanitarian adviser visiting Goma and its vicinity, part of whose visit will be to get an update on humanitarian contingency planning and how we might help further.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the websites that come under his Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's websites and costs for the financial year 2004–05 are as follows:
	Central sites
	www.dfid.gov.uk—main external site, plus DFID India (www.dfidindia.org) and DFID Bangladesh (www.dfidbangladesh.org)
	Costs: £121,983
	Unique visitors: 1,660,260
	Developments magazine
	www.developments.org.uk—website for Developments magazine
	Costs: £12,283.46
	Unique visitors: 45,321
	Global Dimension
	www.globaldimension.org.uk—Development education resources site
	Costs: £69,667
	Unique visitors: 63,726.

El Salvador

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to El Salvador after the earthquake in 2001.

Gareth Thomas: DFID provided a total of £1,327,900 financial aid to El Salvador in response to the first earthquake in January 2001. This was followed by £302,632 financial aid in response to humanitarian need in the wake of the second earthquake in February 2001. The amount dispersed was the same as that pledged and committed. DFID did not provide any material or personnel support. Since 2001 the UK Government have delivered about £1,056,440 in other bilateral aid to El Salvador.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: DFID is fully committed to the civil service equality and diversity agenda and has policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds.
	DFID's diversity strategy provides the broad framework under which our diversity and equality work is promoted and delivered across the organisation. In order to meet the specific challenges of this agenda, we have undertaken a comprehensive range of activities as detailed in the following tables. Monetary values have been assigned to each of these key activities for each of the last five financial years. Staffing costs have been derived using estimates of the time that have been allocated by DFID staff to equality and diversity issues.
	
		Spend on diversity activities 2000–052000–01
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)39,922 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 10,110 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Total 50,682 
		
	
	
		2001–02
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)87,014 
			 Diversity Training Course (In House) 115,040 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 19,952 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Total 222,656 
		
	
	
		2002–03
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)98,784 
			 Diversity Training Course (In House) 368,593 
			 Mentoring Scheme (In House) 17,129 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 22,316 
			 Recruitment Monitoring (Equality Proofing) 8,757 
			 Diversity Audit (Equality Proofing—Policy and  procedures) 35,346 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Diversity Advertising (Specialist Press) 10,530 
			 Total 562,105 
		
	
	
		2003–04
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)109,086 
			 Diversity Adviser 25,317 
			 Diversity Training Course (In House) 408,734 
			 Mentoring Scheme (In House) 29,118 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 21,644 
			 Sponsorship of Pathways/Summer Placement Scheme/ Disability Bursary (Positive Action) 8,754 
			 Recruitment Monitoring (Equality Proofing) 8,757 
			 Diversity Advertising (Specialist Press) 38,255 
			 Memberships (Employers Forum for Age—EFA, Opportunity Now) 4,526 
			 Equal Employment Opportunities 1,175 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Diversity Champions Group (Corporate Donation) 1,000 
			 Civil Service Race Equality Network (Membership) 2,000 
			 Opportunity Rights Commission (Membership) 1,116 
			 Windsor Fellowship (Personal Development Scheme) 36,000 
			 Total 696,132 
		
	
	
		2004–05
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)71,170 
			 Diversity Adviser 50,634 
			 Diversity Training Course (In House) 174,091 
			 Diversity Barriers to Career Progression Study (Seminars/Consultancy) 44,929 
			 Mentoring Scheme (In House) 932 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 2,081 
			 Recruitment Monitoring (Equality Proofing) 8,757 
			 Memberships (Employers' Forum for Age, Employers' Forum for Disability, Opportunity Now, Stonewall) 9,490 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Diversity Directory (Publication) 85 
			 Diversity Champions Group (Corporate Donation) 1,000 
			 Civil Service Race Equality Network (Membership) 2,000 
			 Opportunity Rights Commission (Membership) 1,293 
			 Windsor Fellowship (Personal Development Scheme) 18,146 
			 Diversity Strategy paper and launch 4,789 
			 Total 390,047 
		
	
	
		2005–06 (to 30 September)
		
			 Activity Cost (£) 
		
		
			 Staffing Costs (22)24,440 
			 Diversity Adviser 25,317 
			 Launching internal Staff Networks (Women's, BME, Disability) 1,300 
			 Ethnic Minority Bursary Scheme (Positive Action) 1,000 
			 Memberships (Employers' Forum for Age, Employers' Forum for Disability, Opportunity Now, Stonewall) 9,490 
			 National Mentoring Consortium (Positive Action) 650 
			 Crossing Thresholds Programme 3,365 
			 Total 65,562 
		
	
	(22)Staffing costs have been calculated using estimates of the time that has been allocated to the equality and diversity agendas by DFID staff, using average staff cost data by grade.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Hilary Benn: The following table lists current contracts issued by DFID's central procurement function. This does not include lower value contracts issued by DFID's overseas offices of which there is no consolidated central record.
	
		
			 Name Consultant country Case title Beneficiary country 
		
		
			 @IT Audiovisual Technologies, Informatics and Telecommunications Belgium ICT & Education Technology Adviser: Imfundo Ghana Ghana 
			 
			 Arcadis BMB Netherlands Modernising Social Services—Russian Federation Russian Federation 
			   Eastern Cape Provincial, District and School Development Programme: South Africa South Africa, Republic of 
			   Consultancy Report Russia Social Budget Russian Federation 
			 
			 Art of Living(23) Belgium Seconded National Experts UKREP Secondment and Stagiare Programme Belgium 
			 
			 Asesores De Comercio Exterior (ACE) Spain Trade and Development Framework Arrangements Non-specific country 
			   Trade and Development Framework Contract Non-specific country 
			   Poverty Analysis in Support of Government of Belize Trade Negotiations Belize 
			 
			 COWI A/S Denmark Team Leader—Preparation of a Project Document for a Water Resources Demand Management Project China 
			   Evaluation of DFID Development Assistance: Gender Equality and Woman's Empowerment United Kingdom 
			   Water Resource Demand Management Programme—Start up Consultancy China 
			 
			 Castalia France Development of a Sustainable Regulatory Capacity for the Water Sector Guyana 
			 
			 Communiqorg Netherlands Livelihoods Connect Steering Group United Kingdom 
			 
			 Copenhagen Development Consulting A/S (Copenhagen DC) Denmark Evaluating Co-ordination and Complementarity of CSP'S with National Development Priorities Non-specific country 
			 
			 Dr. Jerzy Slawski Poland Guyana Water Sector Programme—Geographic Information System Expert Guyana 
			 
			 
			 EASP Limited Portugal Financial Management Systems and Technical Support Uganda 
			 
			 Europe External Policy Advisors Belgium Provision of Advice on EC AID Issues Belgium 
			 
			 Gabelle, Chris Italy Secondment of National Expert to the EC Office Liberia Liberia 
			 Haley, Geoff (Mr.) France United Nation Relief and Works Agency Review—2005 Middle East 
			 
			 Holmes, Kieran (Mr.) Ireland (Republic) Support to the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA)—Phase V—Project Manager Rwanda 
			 
			 IPA Netherlands Madhya Pradesh: Support on Power Sector Reform India 
			   Generalist Procurement Agents: DFID Panel of Procurement Agents Non-specific country 
			 
			 ISTAT Italy Household Budget Survey Albania 
			 
			 Instituut Clingendael Netherlands A Study of Peace Conditionalities and Post Conflict Reconstruction Asia Regional 
			 
			 International Procurement Agency BV Netherlands Operation PEBU Sierra Leone 
			   Procurement of Anti-TB Drugs for Revised National TB Control Programme India 
			 
			 Internews Europe France Assistance to the Development of a Strategic Plan for the Media Sector Rwanda 
			   Global Forum for Media Development—Testing and Advancing the Case for the Media Support Sector United Kingdom 
			   Support to Developing Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks and Licensing Procedures—Rwanda Rwanda 
			 
			 Jennings, Mary (MS) Ireland (Republic) Evaluation of Yemen Social Fund for Development (SFD) Yemen, People's DR 
			 
			 Mathy Vanbuel Belgium Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Adviser-The Gambia: Education Sector Gambia, The 
			 
			 Millefeuille Provence France Enabling Agreement—Language Training United Kingdom 
			 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers (Portugal) Portugal Support for the Implementation of International Accounting Standards in the Mozambique Banking System Mozambique 
			 
			 Ramboll Management A/S Denmark Social Policy Development Advice to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy Albania 
			   Prevention Adviser—Anti-corruption Commission Sierra Leone 
			 
			 Reid, Peter (Mr.) Italy Professional Livelihoods Advice to UK REP ROME Italy 
			 
			 Robinson, Kelly Ireland (Republic) Consultancy to Update the St. Helena Tourism Strategy St. Helena 
			 
			 Saana Consulting OY (Ltd.) Finland Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Sierra Leone 
			 
			 TDI Group Ltd. Ireland (Republic) Trade Secretariat Working Group in South East Europe Europe Regional 
		
	
	(23)Three contracts Logistical Support.

European Development Fund

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total level of support under the 8th European Development Fund was to (a) Zimbabwe, (b) Namibia, (c) Nigeria, (d) Co(r)te d'Ivoire, (e) Zaire, (f) Burma, (g) North Korea and (h) European countries.

Hilary Benn: The European Development Fund (EDF) provides development assistance to its 77 signatories from African Caribbean and Pacific states. Burma, North Korea and European countries are not signatories and therefore are not eligible for EDF support. The other countries which received the following allocations of development assistance under the 8th EDF are: Zimbabwe: €110 million, Namibia: €52 million, Nigeria: €100 million, Côte d'Ivoire: €120 million and the Democratic Republic of Congo: €25.7 million.

Gleneagles Summit Targets

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements have been put in place to ensure that targets set in the G8 Gleneagles communique" are (a) monitored and (b) delivered.

Hilary Benn: The G8 Gleneagles communique" has identified the African Partnership Forum (APF) as the main monitoring mechanism to ensure follow-up of the commitments made at the G8 Summit, on the basis of a Joint Action Plan. This plan will focus on progress of the key priorities identified by African partners. The next APF meeting will take place in London in early October and will be co-chaired by the UK and Nigeria. The UK is fully committed to the APF being effective and has proposed a small secretariat, which would undertake follow-up work in between the bi-annual meetings, and prepare reports/logistics for meetings.

Haiti

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Haiti after tropical storm Jeanne and flooding in 2004.

Gareth Thomas: No specific pledges were made by the UK Government in response to the May 2004 floods and the impact of tropical storm Jeanne on Haiti. Humanitarian assistance for Haiti was provided following requests for support from humanitarian organisations responding to relief needs in the country.
	Following the May floods, DFID provided support to Haiti totalling some £418,400, through the following three organisations:
	World Food Programme (£159,000)—provision of food;
	Action Aid (£109,400)—project support for livelihoods and water and sanitation;
	Save the Children (£150,000)—provision of non-food items and education Project.
	These sums were all fully disbursed to the recipient organisations in support of their relief programmes.
	DFID also undertook its own assessment and monitoring of the situation and provided further support to the World Food Programme by deploying an air movement officer to help facilitate the transportation of personnel and cargo.
	Following tropical storm Jeanne, DFID provided two airlifts of emergency relief supplies worth approximately £295,000 to Haiti (tents, Land Rovers, portable generators and radio communications equipment), which were received and delivered by CARE International. A further £150,089 was provided to CARE for logistics support for the tents and for clean-up operations.
	In addition, DFID provided £150,000 towards the International Federation of the Red Cross's relief operations, and approximately £171,663 to the NGO Action Contre la Faim for water and sanitation work.
	The total assistance provided is valued at some £766,752 and is fully disbursed.
	The UK also provided approximately £180,000 of the European Commission's Humanitarian Office (ECHO)'s £1 million assistance package to Haiti after hurricane Jeanne.
	DFID's Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs Department (CHAD) also deployed a humanitarian adviser to assess the situation and consult with partner agencies.
	Aside from this humanitarian support, the UK has provided other aid to Haiti through its contributions to Haiti's interim cooperation framework, a short to medium term development programme (2004–06) supported by the Interim Government and the international donor community. The UK is contributing approximately £35 million through its share of the pledges made by the European Commission, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

HIV/AIDS

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated number of HIV positive people is in each country in sub-Saharan Africa; what percentage of the population this represents in each case; what proportion is being treated with retrovirals; and what estimate has been made of the cost of treating all who would benefit with retrovirals.

Hilary Benn: According to the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), over 25 million adults and children were living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa at the end of 2004. DFID focuses on 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa under its Public Service Agreement (PSA). The following table shows the adult prevalence rate and the total numbers of adults and children infected in each of these countries (UNAIDS statistics).
	In June 2005, the World Health Organisation estimated that 11 per cent. of people in sub-Saharan Africa requiring anti-retroviral therapy were receiving it—leaving a further 4.7 million people in need of treatment. According to UNAIDS estimates, it would cost approximately US$ 2 billion to provide retroviral treatment to all those that need it in Africa between 2006 and 2008. The following table also shows anti-retroviral therapy coverage in each of the 16 African PSA countries.
	Adult HIV prevalence, numbers of adults and children living with HIV, and numbers of adults receiving anti-retroviral therapy in African PSA countries.
	
		
			  Adult (15–49) HIV prevalence rate(24)(percentage) Adults and children (0–49) living with HIV(24) Reported number of adults receiving anti-retroviral therapy (15–49)(25) 
		
		
			 DRC 4.2 1,100,000 5,327 
			 Range (1.7–9.9) (450,000–2,600,000) — 
			 Ethiopia 4.4 1,500,000 16,400 
			 Range (0.9–7.3) (950,000–2,300,000) — 
			 Ghana 3.1 350,000 1,393 
			 Range (1.9–5.0) (210,000–560,000) — 
			 Kenya 6.7 1,200,000 38,000 
			 Range (4.7–9.6) (820,000–1,700,000) — 
			 Malawi 14.2 900,000 19,000 
			 Range (11.3–17.7) (700,000–1,100,000) — 
			 Lesotho 28.9 320,000 5,000 
			 Range (26.3–31.7) (290,000–360,000) — 
			 Nigeria 5.4 3,600,000 17,000 
			 Range (3.6–8.0) (2,400,000–5,400,000) — 
			 Mozambique 12.2 1,300,000 10,657 
			 Range (9.4–15.7) (980,000–1,700,000) — 
			 Rwanda 5.1 250,000 10,346 
			 Range (3.4–7.6) (170,000–380,000) — 
			 Sierra Leone (26)— (26)— (26)— 
			 South Africa 21.5 5,300,000 104,600 
			 Range (18.5–24.9) (4,500,000–6,200,000) — 
			 Sudan 2.3 400,000 400 
			 Range (0.7–7.2) (120,000–1,300,000) — 
			 Tanzania 8.8 1,600,000 8,300 
			 Range (6.4–11.9) (1,200,000–2,300,000) — 
			 Uganda 4.1 530,000 63,896 
			 Range (2.8–6.6) (350,000–880,000) — 
			 Zambia 16.5 920,000 23,000 
			 Range (13.5–20.0) (730,000–1,100,000) — 
			 Zimbabwe 16.5 920,000 15,000 
			 Range (13.5–20.0) (730,000–1,100,000) — 
		
	
	(24)UNAIDS epidemiological update, December 2004
	(25)WHO/UNAIDS 35" country profiles
	(26)Insufficient data

HIV/AIDS

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projections his Department has (a) made and (b) received of the number of children in sub-Saharan Africa infected with HIV in each year up to 2015.

Hilary Benn: DFID relies on the joint united programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for official figures on children affected by HIV. UNAIDS has the global mandate for collating and publishing official statistics on global and sub-Saharan African AIDS epidemics. They publish an annual epidemiological update, which outlines the status of the global and regional AIDS epidemics. However, UNAIDS does not release specific data on future projections, due to methodological constraints. As such, DFID has neither made nor received projections of the number of children infected by HIV in each year up to 2015.
	The UK Government have committed to increase its spending on HIV and AIDS in developing countries to at least £1.5 billion over the next three years (2005–06 to 2007–08); a large part of this will be spent in Africa. At least £150 million has been earmarked for orphans and vulnerable children, 80 per cent. of which will be spent in Africa. For example, we are supporting UNICEF with an estimated £38 million over three years to assist the worst affected countries in east and southern Africa and some post- conflict countries, to take essential steps to develop and implement comprehensive national action plans.

HIV/AIDS

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest estimate is of mortality rates from AIDS in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The UK relies on the Joint United Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to provide accurate AIDS statistics. According to the UNAIDS 2004 AIDS Epidemic update, the best estimate of number of people reported to have died from AIDS during 2004 ranges between 2.8 million and 3.5 million. Since the beginning of the epidemic 40 million people are reported to have died from AIDS.
	AIDS is a terrible human tragedy. DFID is leading the way forward in taking action to tackle this pandemic. We are committed to spend at least £1.5billion to 2008 to intensify AIDS-related work in the developing world. Last month the UK hosted the latest Global Fund Replenishment Conference in London. And following the historic announcement at Gleneagles in July to
	develop and implement a package for HIV prevention, treatment and care, with the aim of as close as possible to universal access to treatment for all those who need it by 2010"
	we have begun work to ensure that this will be met.
	Last month the UK called an informal meeting attended by Members of the G8, developing countries, civil society, UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, the World Bank, and UNICEF to address next steps. UNAIDS have now been tasked with taking forward the process and will be asked to report on steps taken and action required to meet these commitments at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2006.

HIV/AIDS

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department is funding to encourage use of prophylactics in the sex industry in places of high HIV incidence; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, are some of the most cost-effective and beneficial health service interventions available. However, the unmet need for condoms, and other methods of family planning, is very high. The United Nations population fund (UNFPA) estimates that global condom needs for prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is around £9 billion annually. Every year there are 340 million new cases of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Most occur in young people. Many go untreated.
	DFID is working to change this situation. We work with governments and others to help poor countries develop and implement their own national strategies to overturn the HIV epidemic and to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights. As for so many other aspects of basic health, improving sexual and reproductive health depends on well functioning health systems and improving the access of people to supplies such as condoms. We believe that effective HIV prevention programmes include providing universal access to sexual and reproductive health information and services including condoms. We also believe that it is important to make special efforts to ensure that those who are most vulnerable have access to these services. This includes sex workers.
	DFID provides significant support for reproductive health commodities including condoms, through its country programmes and assistance to multilateral organisations such as the UNFPA. The UNFPA estimates that some one billion condoms supplied by donors were used in developing countries in 2001. Nearly half of these were provided by the UK. For the past 10 years, DFID has been the fourth largest provider of condoms, supporting the distribution of about 150 million condoms annually. We are currently looking at a sustainable long-term response to reproductive health commodity shortages with other donors, in order to provide a more predictable basis for the funding and availability of these essential supplies.

HIV/AIDS

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness in the African population of sexually transmitted diseases, with particular reference to HIV.

Gareth Thomas: There is a strong link between Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV infection, particularly in Africa where unsafe sex is the main mode of HIV transmission. DFID supports raising awareness as an integral part of broader approaches to STI and HIV prevention, which include other activities such as provision of sexual and reproductive health services and commodities (e.g. male and female condoms). We are also helping to remove financial, social and geographical barriers to the poorer populations, accessing information, health services and commodities; we also advocate against stigma and discrimination related to HIV.
	For example, as a part of the Ugandan national HIV programme, DFID funds are used to raise awareness of STIs and HIV through AIDS information centres, youth clubs and schools, radio and newspapers.
	DFID has committed to spending £1.5 billion pounds on HIV and AIDS globally over the next 3 years, the bulk of which will go to support African countries in their fight against AIDS. Raising awareness of STIs and HIV is an important part of the comprehensive approach needed.

HIV/AIDS

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what reports his Department has received on the progress of the joint funded Department for International Development/Medical Research Council trial on treatment in children with HIV; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Funding for this trial was agreed in November 2004. The researchers are in the process of securing the necessary drug supplies, developing the trial design and protocols, with African collaborators and training African paediatricians. They will start recruitment of 1,300 children into the trial in 2006.

India

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to India after (A) the earthquake in 2001 and (B) the floods in 2002.

Gareth Thomas: Following the Indian earthquake in 2001, the Conflicts and Humanitarian Affairs Department of DFID committed and disbursed £6.93 million of relief through UN agencies, NGOs and other international organisations. The Conflicts and Humanitarian Affairs Department also spent £1.77 million on direct action, including: funding a search and rescue team, providing humanitarian assessments and logistical support, and providing relief supplies including tents, plastic sheeting, trauma kits and blankets.
	Following the Indian floods in 2002, the Conflicts and Humanitarian Affairs Department of DFID committed and disbursed £322,269 through the International Federation of the Red Cross, Oxfam, Tearfund, and Save the Children Fund UK. Of this, £2,281 was returned due to savings made during implementation.
	DFID India did not allocate funds towards flood relief in Orissa in 2002. However, some funds were provided through ongoing programmes such as the Community Based Drought Response Project (implemented by CARE) which used a portion of their allocation (£35,000) to respond to floods in three districts of Orissa: Bolangir, Gajapati, and Kandhamal.

Kenya

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Kenya after the droughts of (A) 2001, (B) 2002 and (C) 2004.

Hilary Benn: The UK government pledged, committed and delivered a total of £25 million of humanitarian assistance to Kenya following the droughts of 2001, 2002 and 2004 (£15 million in 2001, £3 million in 2002 and £7 million in 2004). The bulk of this assistance (approximately 99 per cent.) was delivered in form of financial support which helped purchase and distribute food, nutritional supplements and essential medical supplies and the rest provided for technical personnel support. The UK is the second largest bilateral humanitarian donor in Kenya after the United States.
	DFID in collaboration with other donors is helping the Kenyan government develop and implement a long-term national plan to tackle the problem of recurrent droughts.

Mozambique

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Mozambique after the floods in 2000.

Hilary Benn: The UK Government pledged £26 million at the Rome donor conference held in response to the Government of Mozambique's appeal for assistance following the 2000 floods. Our actual expenditure was £37 million. This was composed of £10 million in additional budgetary assistance to the Government of Mozambique to compensate for revenue losses, £7 million for the reconstruction of the north-south highway and a total of £20 million channelled through United Nations agencies and NGOs to meet a range of emergency needs, including food assistance, helicopter operations, provision of water and sanitation and logistical support. Given the number of projects and agencies involved, providing the detailed breakdown requested would incur disproportionate cost.

Niger

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Niger in the last 10 years for which records are available.

Hilary Benn: DFID has not had a development assistance programme with Niger during the past 10 years, but does provide significant support through multilateral channels such as United Nations agencies and the EC development programme, of which the estimated UK share amounted to £6.2 million in 2002. We have also provided debt relief, humanitarian assistance and small project support. Details are shown in the following table.
	Having reached Completion Point under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in April 2004, Niger is now benefiting from increased debt relief. From 1 January 2005 this includes multilateral debt relief of which the cost to the UK is estimated to be around £9.035 million between now and 2015.
	In February, as part of efforts to strengthen UK/France cooperation on development issues in Africa, DFID agreed to provide an initial £7 million, through the French development programme, in support of Niger's basic education policy, with particular emphasis on getting more girls into primary education.
	In recent months DFID has made a significant contribution to the food crisis relief operation in Niger. Our total support of £3.25 million is among the top three contributions, and among the quickest. Our funding will contribute to the general feeding of up to 1,700,000 people, nutritional therapy for up to 60,000 malnourished children, emergency health care for up to 1,750,000 vulnerable people, and emergency livestock interventions for up to 21,000 people.
	
		UK bilateral aid to Niger -- £000
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 Financial aid  
			 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative — — — — — 
			   
			 Other Debt Relief 333 355 665 698 629 
			   
			 Humanitarian Assistance 13 — — — — 
			   
			 Technical Cooperation  
			 Wholly Financed Personnel: Long Term — 43 25 — 9 
			 Consultancies — — — 21 — 
			   
			 Other DFID assistance  
			 Heads of Mission Schemes 10 — — — 4 
			 Joint Funding Scheme 288 69 126 150 164 
			 Civil Society Challenge Fund — — — — — 
			 Total 634 467 816 870 806 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Financial aid  
			 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative — — 126 61 2,973 
			   
			 Other Debt Relief 847 219 182 144 5,985 
			   
			 Humanitarian Assistance — — — — 13 
			   
			 Technical Cooperation  
			 Wholly Financed Personnel: Long Term — — — — — 
			 Consultancies — — — — — 
			   
			 Other DFID assistance  
			 Heads of Mission Schemes 15 20 — — 35 
			 Joint Funding Scheme 130 108 58 58 31 
			 Civil Society Challenge Fund 5 — — — 28 
			 Total 997 347 366 263 9,053 
		
	
	Source:
	SRSG Database

Palestine

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the (a) organisations and (b) projects operating in the Palestinian Territories being (i) funded and (ii) partially sponsored by his Department.

Hilary Benn: DFID is providing funding and technical support to the following organisations operating in the Palestinian Territories:
	The Palestinian Authority (PA)
	The PA Central Bureau of Statistics
	The PA Ministry of Planning
	The Palestinian Civil Police
	The Palestinian Water Authority
	The Negotiations Support Unit
	The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
	The World Bank.
	Projects currently being funded directly by DFID are:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Direct budget support to the Palestinian Authority 17.2 million over 2 years 
			 Assistance to the Negotiations Affairs Department 9.2 million over 7 years 
			 Support for Public Administration and Civil Service Reform 5 million over 5 years 
			 Sustainable Management of Aquifers 3.7 million over 7 years 
			 Support to European Union Co-ordinating Office for Palestinian Police Support 1.6 million over 3 years 
			 Support to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics 1 million over 6 years 
			 Support for Palestinian Pro-poor Participatory planning project 950,000 over 2 years 
			 Support for Hydrometric Monitoring 431,000 over 3 years 
			 Rehabilitation of Jericho Police Training Centre 225,000 over 2 years 
			 Provision of World Bank private sector and aid co-ordination capacity 180,000 over 1 year 
			 UNRWA General Fund 61 million over last 3 years 
			 UNRWA external review 70,000 
			 Support to UNRWA education management system 2.6 million over 5 years

Parliamentary Scrutiny

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote parliamentary scrutiny in developing countries of the terms and conditions of aid agreements entered into by the governments of those countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises the important role that parliaments in developing countries can play in the scrutiny of the management of public resources, including aid agreements entered into by the respective governments.
	However, DFID has not provided support specifically for parliamentary scrutiny of the terms and conditions of aid agreements but we are currently working with many African countries to support and strengthen parliamentary oversight bodies, e.g. Public Accounts Committees and Supreme Audit Institutions such as National Audit Offices. These are the key links in the formal system of financial accountability in most countries.
	This support includes assistance in Malawi for strengthening the institution of parliament to have powers over state spending, the budget and taxation. In Zambia, a new multi-donor public financial management reform programme, to which DFID is contributing, includes a component to enhance a parliamentary oversight of public resource management. In Uganda, together with other donors, DFID has supported the Office for Parliamentary Development, which has helped to strengthen the parliament, including by the provision of training for parliamentarians.

Parliamentary Scrutiny

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to promote parliamentary oversight of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by parliaments in developing countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID recognises the importance of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank being transparent and accountable to parliaments in developing countries. Clearly, such accountability needs to be at the heart of their relationship.
	The main means by which parliaments should engage with the World Bank and the IMF activities is through the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) process. This is a national strategy for development that sets the agenda, which donors, including the World Bank, should follow in each country.
	In the past, parliamentary engagement in the PRS process has often been weak. However, over the past two years, DFID country offices have begun to support stronger involvement of parliamentarians in the PRS process. DFID is providing support for parliamentary engagement in Malawi and Tanzania, where an independent monitoring group was established to oversee the joint commitments made around the PRS.
	At board meetings, DFID encourages the World Bank and IMF to engage with parliaments as much as possible. We also actively push for them to make more of their documents public and will continue to pursue this both at board meetings and in discussions with staff. In fact, in March this year a new World Bank disclosure policy was approved which, among other things, makes board minutes public. The World Bank is now working closely with parliamentarians in some of its borrowing member countries to involve them in the design and implementation of its lending programmes.
	The World Bank Institute has a major Parliamentary Strengthening Programme. A key objective is to strengthen the capacity of parliaments to scrutinise the allocation and use of public funds, and oversee the PRS. Since it began in 1996, it has held workshops in a range of countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia and Uganda to raise awareness among parliamentarians.
	The World Bank Institute has also supported the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians against Corruption (GOPAC) to encourage parliamentary scrutiny and action against corruption.
	Outside the PRS, the main means of oversight is the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank. This provides opportunities for parliaments to scrutinise the World Bank and engage more deeply in development policy issues. The independent network has some 450 members from over 90 countries and facilitates direct dialogue between parliamentarians and the World Bank to achieve greater transparency of policies and practices.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support the Government are providing to the peace initiative in northern Uganda led by Betty Bigombe.

Hilary Benn: The UK, in partnership with others, has provided technical, logistical and financial support for Betty Bigombe's efforts to mediate between the Lord's Resistance Army and the Government of Uganda. In total, UK financial support for Bigombe's peace initiative has so far amounted to £210,000.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons allocated development aid is being withheld from the Government of Uganda.

Hilary Benn: In December 2004 the UK agreed a new poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) arrangement with Uganda which provides a grant of up to £145 million over three years to support the implementation of the Uganda Government's poverty eradication action plan (PEAP). We indicated at that time that £40 million would be set aside as PRBS in the financial year 2004–05.
	The arrangement links budget support to reforms detailed in the PEAP. It includes criteria on Uganda's political transition to multiparty politics, which will help maintain the stability required to make progress in reducing poverty, alongside criteria relating to macro-economic and sector policies and management. All the indicators are drawn from the PEAP and are designed to ensure our support is transparent and predictable. When our last release of budget support fell due in March 2005 we were concerned by several aspects of the political transition, including that insufficient progress had been made towards establishing a fair basis for a multi-party system. We, therefore, decided to withhold £5 million out of the total of £40 million for the financial year.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken to facilitate economic regeneration in northern Uganda.

Hilary Benn: The conflict in northern Uganda severely disrupts normal economic activity and for the moment constrains economic recovery. Over 90 per cent. of the population in the districts that are most affected are currently displaced and dependent upon humanitarian relief. We are providing substantial humanitarian support in response to this need. In 2004–05 we provided over £11 million of emergency assistance which was channelled mainly through the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the Red Cross. In 2005–06 a further £3 million for emergency assistance has already been committed and more is planned. The UK and other donors are discussing with the Government what assistance will be required to support economic recovery in the north once the security situation has sufficiently improved.

Uganda

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding has been allocated to education and training programmes in northern Uganda in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: In recent years, we have provided resources for UNICEF's humanitarian programmes in northern Uganda, which includes support for emergency education provision and vocational training. In total, we provided £650,000 for UNICEF's work in northern Uganda in 2002–03, £1.62 million in 2003–04 and £1.37 million in 2004–05. It is not possible to disaggregate how these resources have been used.
	In addition DFID's poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) helps the Government provide access to education and training, especially free primary education, across Uganda including in the north. DFID's PRBS expenditure in Uganda was £17.5 million in 2002–03, £30 million in 2003–04 and £35 million in 2004–05.

Venezuela

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much (a) financial, (b) material, (c) personnel and (d) other aid the UK Government (i) pledged, (ii) committed and (iii) delivered to Venezuela following the floods in 1999.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government's response following the floods in Venezuela in December 1999 wasin the form of financial assistance only. £780,000 was committed to the relief exercise, of which £771,000 was delivered in the form of vouched expenditure. The funds were used to support the assistance provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Red Cross and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Boards of Directors

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list Government Departments which have boards of directors; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I have been asked to reply. 
	All United Kingdom central Government Departments are managed by boards made up of executive members drawn from senior officials and some non-executive members. The name and structure of these boards vary across Departments to reflect individual organisational and legislative needs. Non ministerial Departments are set up by individual statues which may have prescribed structures.
	A code of good practice for corporate governance in central Government Departments was introduced in August 2005 to help departments to manage their business more effectively. It is a key part of the improvements in financial and risk management, and efficiency which is being promoted across central Government Departments. I have placed a copy of the code in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the total expenditure saved was in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department and its predecessors.

John Hutton: The Cabinet Office has not engaged management consultants in any of the last three years specifically in order to make recommendations to save money.

Government Car and Despatch Agency

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many cars the Government Car Agency has, broken down by the form of fuel used.

Jim Murphy: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Hampton Review

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether all proposals from the Hampton Review will include comprehensive race equality impact assessments.

John Hutton: The proposals contained in the Hampton Review are being taken forward by a number of different agencies across Government. In some cases, the implementation of the Hampton proposals will require a Regulatory Impact Assessment, and where appropriate those RIAs will include impacts on race equality.

Ministerial Vehicles

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans there are to replace cars in the ministerial fleet with cars which use alternative fuel technology.

Jim Murphy: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its chief executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many complaints the Parliamentary Ombudsman has received from hon. Members in the last 12 months, broken down by constituency;
	(2)  how many complaints the Parliamentary Ombudsman has received since 2001, broken down by Government Department.

John Hutton: All complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman are referred by Members of Parliament.
	Details on the number of complaints made to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, broken down by Government Department, are set out in the annual reports of the Parliamentary Ombudsman, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and can also be accessed on line at www.ombudsman.org.uk.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 112W, on private finance projects, what total value of assets and liabilities for the project is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2004–05 (Notes to the Departmental Resource Accounts Nos.1—Statement of Accounting Policies; 1.16; and 27) copies of which are available in the Library.

Recycled Tyres

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what the policy of the Government car service is on using recycled tyres on its vehicles; and how often this policy is reviewed;
	(2)  whether the Government car service plans to introduce a mandatory percentage of recycled tyres for use on its cars.

Jim Murphy: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Strategy Unit Drugs Report

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the reasons were for withholding parts of the Strategy Unit Drugs Report; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The undisclosed parts of the Strategy Unit Drugs Report were withheld under the Freedom of Information Act. Sections 35 and 36 of the Act apply to the undisclosed information as it relates to the formulation of Government policy and the free and frank exchange of views. Section 23 of the Act applies to some of the undisclosed information, as the information was supplied by or relates to bodies dealing with security matters (in this case the National Criminal Intelligence Service, NCIS).

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Cleaners' Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what discussions have taken place between House officials and MITIE Cleaning and Emprise Services regarding pay of cleaners in the House; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Since the beginning of this dispute, the authorities of the House have held a series of meetings with MITIE and EMPRISE Services and have devoted considerable time and effort in working with them to identify possible ways of increasing the pay and improving the conditions for their staff, while continuing to deliver the services detailed within the contract. This has allowed MITIE to offer a pay increase to their staff from £5.20 to £6.00 per hour funded through internal efficiency savings. The company has made it clear that where posts are lost as part of the efficiency savings, individuals will be offered transfer to other MITIE sites wherever possible. In addition, work on improved on-site accommodation for MITIE staff has now been completed. These facilities will be available for use from today.

Explanatory Notes

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make explanatory notes to bills available online in PDF format; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: There are currently no plans to do so, in the absence of significant demand for such a service. I refer the hon. Member to the replies I have given today to his question on the availability of PDF documents on the parliamentary website.

Official Report

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make the Official Report available online in PDF format; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: There are currently no plans to do so. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to his question on the availability of PDF documents on the parliamentary website.

Parliament Website

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will list the publications on the Parliament website that are available in (a) PDF, (b) HTML and (c) both PDF and HTML formats.

Nick Harvey: Electronic versions of publications produced by the House's printing contractor are made available on the website principally in HTML format. This covers all Hansard Products, Bills and Explanatory Memoranda, Select Committee Publications and the daily working papers of the House (The Vote Bundle) as well as other House of Commons Papers. Bills, Select Committee Reports and certain House of Commons Papers are additionally made available in PDF format. The House of Commons Members' Estimate Committee Concordance of Resolutions, House of Commons Resource Accounts, Regulatory Reform Proposals and Draft Orders, House of Commons Library Research Papers, Standard Notes and Factsheets are published in PDF format, as are Reports and POSTnotes from the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and other miscellaneous documents.

Parliament Website

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what steps he is taking to increase the availability of PDF documents on the Parliament website.

Nick Harvey: Material is placed on the parliamentary website primarily in HTML format, which is the preferred format for the web. PDF versions of documents are made available on the parliamentary website when it has not been possible or cost-effective to produce HTML versions, or in addition to HTML versions in response to particular and substantial demand and after consideration of any cost implications of doing so. Most recently Select Committee evidence volumes have been made available in PDF versions as well as HTML.

Parliament Website

Sarah Teather: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost was of the parliamentary website in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visits to the site there were in that year.

Nick Harvey: The parliamentary website operates across both Houses of Parliament and is made up of contributions from a number of different individual sites. Not all costs are separately identifiable, as a number of staff contribute material to the site as part of their normal duties and these costs are not quantified. Neither are available statistics about visitors analysed in the same way or over the same time periods for the various separate components. Separately identifiable cash expenditure across both Houses of Parliament for the Financial Year 2004–05 amounted to just over £502,000, of which approximately 56 per cent. was spent on electronic document publication and associated services and 21 per cent. on staff. In the same financial year, 3.8 million unique users were recorded as accessing the parliamentary publications site, there were over 370,000 visits to the Explore Parliament site and on average 400 visitors per day were recorded on the Parliament Live site. Additionally www.parliament.uk served over 29 million page requests and the EDM web database recorded some 5.4 million hits.

Recycling

Norman Baker: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will take steps to introduce recycling bins for glass and plastic material in communal areas and corridors outside hon. Members' offices.

Nick Harvey: There are currently no plans to introduce recycling bins for glass and plastic material in communal areas and corridors outside hon. Members' offices. Glass recycling bins suitable for use by Members and their staff are situated at the waste centres in Peers' Court and 1 Canon Row Courtyard. Bins can be also be supplied for collection of glass bottles following functions catered by the Refreshment Department, including meetings in committee rooms. For mixed types of plastics in small quantities our policy is to recover through the general waste stream. Further consideration will be given to collection of separate waste streams in office buildings, nearer the point at which they arise, subject to health and safety and fire regulations.

Recycling

Susan Kramer: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what proportion of disposable cups and take-away containers purchased from the catering outlets in the Parliamentary Estate are (a) recyclable and (b) recycled; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: A high proportion of the disposable cups and take-away containers currently used by the House of Commons Refreshment Department are potentially recyclable. However, because they are all inherently contaminated with foodstuffs and there are very limited facilities for the separation of waste, there is little opportunity for effective recycling of these items other than by incineration to generate electricity, as presently happens.
	The House is currently in the process of re-tendering its contract for the supply of disposable catering products. Bidders have been asked in general to propose materials and packaging that deliver environmental benefits and, specifically, to propose disposable catering cups and take-away food containers that are more readily recyclable. The waste management contract is also in the process of being re-tendered by the Parliamentary Estates Directorate and arrangements for the better separation of waste are being reviewed as part of this process.
	As soon as both these contracts are in place, it is intended to set up a pilot scheme to increase the proportion of catering disposable products that are recycled.

TRANSPORT

A3

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the inspector's report into the A3 Hindhead improvement scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government is currently considering the inspector's report following a Public Inquiry. The inspector's report will be published with the Government's decision in due course.

A303

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the timetable is for further dualling of the A303.

Stephen Ladyman: We will consider the timing of further improvements to the A303 in the light of advice from the South West Region on the priority that they attach to such schemes within the funding allocation for major transport schemes in the South West. As outlined in our recent announcement on regional funding allocations, the region's advice is expected at the end of January 2006.

A47 Soke Parkway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made with regard to the introduction of whisper-quiet road surfacing on the A47 Soke Parkway in Peterborough.

Stephen Ladyman: pursuant to the reply, 12 July 2005, Official Report, c. 993W
	Quieter surfacing, in accordance with the Highways Agency's specification, will be provided on two lanes of the eastbound carriageway of the A47 Soke Parkway through the Thomas Cook Interchange in this financial year and not westbound as previously stated.

Blackwall Tunnel

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on the wider road network of the Blackwall tunnel refurbishment; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport has not undertaken any assessment of the impact on the wider road network of the Blackwall tunnel refurbishment. The Blackwall tunnel forms part of the Greater London Authority Road Network—now known as the Transport for London Road Network—and is the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London. Therefore, any works, including refurbishment, on that stretch of road are a matter for them. Information about the Blackwall Tunnel and its refurbishment can be obtained from:
	Keith Ollier
	Director of Street Management
	Transport for London
	Windsor House
	42–50 Victoria Street
	London SW1H 0TL.

Buses

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total investment in quality bus corridors has been in each Passenger Transport Area in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: The information on investment provided is based on annual returns the Department receives from local transport authorities. It does not hold records on the level of investment in quality bus corridors alone for all Passenger Transport Areas. An authority may have classified investment in quality bus corridors as a bus priority scheme or less likely as a bus infrastructure scheme. The following tables include information provided on both bus priority and bus infrastructure covering the five years of the first local transport plans.
	
		Bus priority schemes -- £000
		
			 Passenger Transport Area 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester 4,743 6,589 6,484 9,099 8,572 
			 Merseyside 697 1,158 69 12 0 
			 West Yorkshire 774 854 1,354 1,530 1,812 
			 South Yorkshire 2,422 4,106 3,680 4,703 5,999 
			 West Midlands 9,598 11,839 19,702 21,945 37,775 
			 Tyne and Wear 590 3,117 12,987 13,590 10,305 
		
	
	
		Bus infrastructure -- £000
		
			 Passenger Transport Area 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Greater Manchester 2,130 826 1,681 1,535 1,395 
			 Merseyside 6,884 6,292 6,462 4,016 5,308 
			 West Yorkshire 1,962 4,664 6,128 6,056 7,295 
			 South Yorkshire 1,568 656 549 2,684 1,377 
			 West Midlands 505 2,656 1,993 3,162 4,381 
			 Tyne and Wear 519 1,281 0 0 0 
		
	
	The figures for 2005–06 are forecast expenditure to the end of this financial year. Other bus related investment is not included in these figures.

Changing Development Partnerships

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities who are members of changing development partnerships.

Karen Buck: The Charging Development Partnership last met in August 2002. It is no longer an active forum.

Crossrail

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that London firms are given key roles in the development of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: Crossrail related procurement will be undertaken in accordance with the relevant legislation and the aim of obtaining value for money.

Crossrail

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on Brent residents of Crossrail; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Environmental Statement accompanying the Crossrail Bill shows that no construction works are proposed to take place within the London borough of Brent and no Crossrail lorry routes would use roads in the borough.
	Following the opening of Crossrail, many journeys to and from Brent will be improved by the provision of interchanges between Crossrail and London underground lines that serve the borough.

Crossrail

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether a full cost benefit analysis has been made of the case for a Crossrail station at Woolwich; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps have been taken to ascertain the views of people in southeast London with regard to a station at Woolwich for Crossrail;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of whether a station at Woolwich for Crossrail would meet the Government's integrated transport criteria for new rail schemes;
	(4)  what steps he took to ensure that the case for a station at Woolwich was properly assessed before the Crossrail Bill was presented to the House;
	(5)  what the estimated costs are of building a station at Woolwich after the Crossrail link through to Abbey Wood has opened.

Derek Twigg: Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRLL), the company set up to develop and promote the Crossrail project, did consider a Crossrail station at Woolwich during the development of the project, but, based on the then current estimates of cost, passenger numbers and benefits, they concluded that it could not be justified. Powers to construct such a station are therefore not being sought in the Bill introduced into Parliament on 22 February 2005.
	However, CLRLL are, at the request of the London Borough of Greenwich and other stakeholders, currently undertaking a more detailed study of the costs and benefits of a station at Woolwich, which will be published in due course. This study will assess the case for the station against the Government's integrated transport criteria for new rail schemes and will include a cost benefit analysis.
	No estimate has been made of the potential cost of constructing a station at Woolwich once Crossrail is operational. However, this would entail closure of the route from Custom House to Abbey Wood for many months, and therefore the cost would be greater than for construction before operation.
	CLRLL consulted widely including two twelve-week rounds of public consultation on the project. During both rounds, public information centres were held at Woolwich and Abbey Wood, to provide information and seek residents' views. These were supported by mail drops to those potentially affected, newsletters, a dedicated website and a 24-hour telephone, helpline.

Croydon Tramlink (Offences)

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list offences recorded by the British Transport Police occurring on the Croydon Tramlink System for each year since the inception of the system, broken down by (a) type of offence and (b) tram stop.

Derek Twigg: A table showing the number of offenceson the Croydon Tramlink system, recorded by (a) offence group and (b) tram stop for financial years 2000–01 to 2004–05 and within British Transport Police's jurisdiction, has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Disused Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the disused sections of railway track where agreement has been reached that they should be reopened for passenger traffic.

Derek Twigg: Network Rail advises that it is committed to re-opening the following sections of line:
	Maryhill-Anniesland—which re-opened on 29 September;
	The north end of the East London Line—from Dalston Junction to Holywell Viaduct;
	Stirling-Alloa;
	Airdrie-Bathgate; and
	Hamilton-Larkhall.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on the measures to be introduced under the planned directive amending directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community's railways;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on international rail passengers' rights and obligations;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services.

Derek Twigg: These four proposals form the commission's third rail package and are intended to help revitalise the European Communities' rail industry.
	The planned directive amending directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the community's railways would extend the existing liberalisation of the international rail freight market to cover international passenger services, including cabotage—the right to pick up and set down passengers on domestic sections of an international route.
	The planned directive on the certification of train crews operating locomotives and trains would introduce a system of train driver licensing that will facilitate the recognition of driver competences throughout the European Union.
	The planned regulation on international rail passengers' rights and obligations would introduce new mandatory provisions on passenger rights, including rights of persons with reduced mobility, and compensation entitlements.
	The planned regulation on compensation in cases of non-compliance with contractual quality requirements for rail freight services would impose mandatory provisions on compensation for poor service quality.
	These proposals are still under negotiation in the council and European Parliament. Negotiations in the council have so far focussed on the proposal for train driver licensing, on which a general approach on a compromise text was reached in December 2004; and on the passenger rights proposal, on which the UK presidency is aiming to general approach on a compromise text by the end of this year.
	The proposal on freight quality contracts has also been discussed and unanimously opposed by member states. Discussion of the proposal on liberalisation of international passenger services will start under the UK presidency.
	The European Parliament's Transport and Tourism Committee has proposed a number of amendments to three of the four Commission proposals. It has voted to reject outright the fourth proposal (freight quality contracts). The plenary first reading has not yet taken place.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport.

Stephen Ladyman: Two legislative proposals relating to harmonisation of social legislation relating to road transport are currently being negotiated within the EU institutions. The first is a proposal to replace the existing rules on drivers' hours as contained in EU Regulation (EEC No. 3820/85). The second is a proposed directive (known as the enforcement directive") to replace the current requirements relating to the levels of checks member states must undertake to ensure compliance with the driver's hours rules.
	The transport council reached a political agreement on both these proposals on 11 June 2004, and the Common Positions were formally adopted on 9 December 2004. Under the Common Position on driver's hours the main changes proposed for the core provisions on driving and rest times are:
	an increase in the minimum uninterrupted daily rest period from 8 to 9 hours (plus changes to the way total daily rest is taken);.
	a reduction in the maximum driving time per calendar week from 72 hours to 56 hours;
	at least one regular weekly rest period of 45 consecutive hours must be taken during any two consecutive weeks, and either another regular weekly rest period or a reduced weekly rest period (at least 24 hours) which can be taken anywhere provided the reduction is compensated for within three weeks;
	an uninterrupted 45 minute break after 4½ hours driving or, alternatively, a break of 5 minutes for every ½ hour driving (or part thereof)—subject to a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum driving time of 4½ hours.
	The Council is also seeking through this piece of legislation to rectify significant gaps in the associated Regulation on digital tachographs by setting down requirements for drivers to enter data about non-driving work and for companies to download data and make it available at, or from, their premises. It will also provide a revised date for the introduction of the digital tachographs.
	The Common Position on the enforcement directive would require increased numbers of checks both on vehicles by the roadside and at company headquarters.
	On 13 April 2005 the European Parliament, at 2nd Reading, requested many amendments to both Common Positions—some relating to the changes mentioned above. Under the co-decision procedure the Council and European Parliament will now seek to reach agreed texts through conciliation. This process is scheduled to be completed in December.
	Once the EU legislation is adopted, the Government will prepare Regulations for the implementation of those measures that are not directly applicable.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on market access to port services.

Stephen Ladyman: The European Commission's proposed directive is currently being scrutinised by the European Parliament. As significant amendments have already been proposed (notably the removal of reference to self handling) it is too early to speculate on measures to be introduced. However, an explanatory note setting out the initial UK Government viewpoint and our detailed assessment of the potential impact of the Commission's initial proposal are now available on the Department for Transport website.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on Marco Polo II.

Stephen Ladyman: The European Commission's proposed Regulation would establish a second 'Marco Polo' Programme to fund projects that will lead to the transfer of traffic from road to rail or water (sea or inland). The objective of this measure is to reduce road congestion, improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system within the EU and to enhance intermodality.

EU Directives

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 127W, on EU discussions, if he will make a statement on measures to be introduced under the planned directive on satellite radio navigation.

Stephen Ladyman: The proposal is for a Regulation of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on future financing for the deployment and operation of the Galileo (European Global Navigation Satellite System) programme. The Commission's proposal, like others on EU finances, will not be agreed until an overall decision has been reached on the next EU budgetary cycle 2007–13.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Karen Buck: The following table shows contracts awarded/order placed to other EU member states between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005.
	
		Contracts awarded/order placed to other EU member states
		
			 Contractor Nationality 
		
		
			 DfT(Central)  
			 Central Dredging Association Netherlands 
			 CompuServe Ireland 
			 Euro NCAP Belgium 
			 Holiday Care Belgium 
			 Microsoft Subs Centre Ireland 
			 ICTCT Hungary 
			 Eurocontrol Belgium 
			 PIANC Belgium 
			 OECD France 
			 Jeppesen Germany 
			 Elsevier Science Netherlands 
			 Fearnleys A/S Norway 
			 Swedish National Energy Admin Sweden 
			 Shippax Information Sweden 
			 Ertico SC Belgium 
			 Dekra Automobil GMBH Germany 
			 Hotel Maison Rouge France 
			 Hamburg Airport Germany 
			 European Inst Public Administration Netherlands 
			 ECAC Secretariat France 
			 Leids University Netherlands 
			 Int Assoc of Maritime Economists Netherlands 
			 European Inst Maritime Transport Law Belgium 
			 European Disability Forum Belgium 
			 B and C Conferences France 
			 Kontec Germany 
			 Hilton Prague Czech Republic 
			 Mentz Datenverarbeitung GMBH Germany 
			 Maureen Silvia Friedman Italy 
			 Alto Sari France 
			 IFRI Activities France 
			 Ecolo Germany 
			 Traiteur Domus Cuisine Belgium 
			 De La Cruz Ronnie France 
			 Deutsche Gessellschaft Fur Oprto Germany 
			 Club Association France 
			 Stichting Humaniversity Netherlands 
			   
			 Highways Agency  
			 Terralmaging Holland 
			 Icatel Optical Fibre GmbH Germany 
			 Bayerische Kabelwerke AG Germany 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency  
			 Joh. Enschede The Netherlands 
			 Infonet The Netherlands 
			 Navteq The Netherlands 
			 Addon Mail France 
			   
			 Driving Standards Agency  
			 Stralfors plc Sweden(27) 
			   
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency  
			 Lamor Corporation Ab Finland 
			 Kongsberg Satellite Services Norway 
			 SAS Larive environnement France 
			 Det Norkse Veritas Norway 
			 OPEC Various 
			 Norcontrol IT Ltd Norway 
			 Terma A/S Danish 
			 Kongsberg Satellite Services Norway 
			   
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency  
			 GE Equipment Services Europe France 
			 Eurotunnel France 
			 Neopost France(27) 
			 Siemens Business Systems Ltd Germany(27) 
			 VL Test Systems Ltd Holland(27) 
			 MAHA Germany(27) 
			   
			 Vehicle Certification Agency  
			 Branco Lobo—Netrad Consult Spain 
			 Cermet Italy 
			 UTAC France 
			 ISO Belgium 
			 ETRTO Switzerland 
		
	
	(27)Order placed with UK subsidiary.
	The Department does not always deal directly with the head office of a company and may not have any reason to request or hold this data. This information can therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost. The above table has been compiled using readily available supplier information held by the central Department and its agencies.

Free Bus Travel

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will introduce free local bus travel for (a) pensioners and (b) disabled persons.

Karen Buck: The statutory entitlement to free off-peak local bus travel in England for people 60 and over and disabled people will come into effect on 1 April 2006.

General Lighthouse Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was contributed by the General Lighthouse Fund to navigational aids in the territorial waters of the Republic of Ireland in 2004–05; and whatthe estimated contributions are for the next three years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is set out as follows.
	
		
			  GLF contribution relating to the Republic of Ireland (Sterling £ million) 
		
		
			 2004–05 6.88 
			 2005–06(28) 9.44 
			 2006–07(28) 8.19 
		
	
	(28)Estimated
	The figures for 2005–06 and 2006–07 include costs in relation to the new Head Office building at Dun Laoghaire for the Commissioners of Irish Lights; and are net of the estimated proceeds from the sale of the existing building in Dublin and the additional contribution from the Irish Government. The net cost of the project to the General Lighthouse Fund is expected to be £4.7 million with estimated running cost savings of £1.4 million per annum.
	No detailed planning exists for 2007–08.

General Lighthouse Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

Stephen Ladyman: We have received representations from a number of interested parties including the Lights Advisory Committee, representing the maritime industry, the Independent Light Dues Forum, 12 from Members of the UK Parliament and two from Members of the European Parliament.

General Lighthouse Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made with negotiations with the Irish Government on the cessation of payments from the UK General Lighthouse Fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

Stephen Ladyman: We have begun to work with the Irish Government's Department of Communication, Marine and Natural Resources to review the current funding arrangements for the Commissioners of Irish Lights, focusing initially on agreeing common ground and exploring possible solutions.
	We are keen to see progress in bringing these funding arrangements up to date as part of our wider work with all three General Lighthouse Authorities to make further gains in the cost-effective delivery of aids to navigation.

Graduated Driver Licensing Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Graduated Driver Licensing scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has commissioned research on this topic and TRL report number 529: Graduated driver licensing—a review of some current systems" was published in 2002 (available on-line at www.trl.co.uk/1024/mainpage.asp?page=141).
	As part of our Road Safety Strategy, we consulted in 2002 on a number of options for improving the safety of new drivers, including changes to the licensing system. Although some support was expressed for the introduction of a full graduated licensing system, the Secretary of State concluded that the skills needed to drive unaccompanied should be demonstrated at the time of the practical test, and that the introduction of new licensing arrangements such as a requirement to take a second practical test or the imposition of restrictions on newly qualified drivers, was not justified. The consultation document and decision letter are available on-line from the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/contentservertemplate/dft_index.hcst?n=10204&l=2.

Heathrow Airport

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will review the security arrangements in place at Heathrow airport for which his Department is responsible in the light of the recent London bombings, with particular reference to the training provided to British Airports Authority staff;
	(2)  if he will review the security arrangements in place at Heathrow airport which are the responsibility of his Department in the light of the recent London bombings, with particular reference to the training provided to the relevant staff.

Karen Buck: Training of staff at all UK airports is covered by regulations issued by this Department under the Aviation Security Act 1982. These regulations impose mandatory training on new employees, and regular refresher training for existing staff, undertaking a security duty. Regulations also impose mandatory training requirements on aircrew, and staff working for in-flight catering companies and cargo companies. Training, which can only be delivered by trainers accredited by this Department, is inspected by DfT inspectors.
	The UK aviation security training programme is kept under regular review, both through a sub-committee of the National Aviation Security Committee, at which key industry stakeholders are represented, and regular liaison between officials and the industry, trade unions, police and security service.

Heathrow Airport

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the last on-the-ground measurements of noise from aircrafts using London Heathrow airport were taken.

Karen Buck: Departure noise is continually monitored by BAA at 10 fixed sites under the departure tracks at Heathrow. These are put in place to gauge whether departing aircraft comply with the noise limits specifiedin the noise abatement notice for Heathrow under Section 78(1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. Compliance is reviewed regularly through BAA's Noise and Track Keeping Working Group, and data is published annually in BAA's Flight Evaluation Report.
	Data from the fixed monitors and additional mobile noise monitors is used to validate a noise exposure model for the 16-hour day time summer period. The Civil Aviation Authority, on behalf of the Department, uses the model to produce annual noise contours at Heathrow airport. The 2004 noise contours have recently been published on the Department's website.

Heathrow Airport

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the London Heathrow airport standard instrument departure and arrival routes pass over the Twickenham constituency.

Karen Buck: The Twickenham constituency lies under four standard instrument departure routes when aircraft take off to the east. At Heathrow, given the direction of the prevailing wind, this is only about 20–30 per cent. of the time during a typical year, although prolonged periods of such operations can occur at any time. Twickenham is not directly over-flown by arriving aircraft approaching Heathrow.

Helicopters

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many helicopter movements there were in the air space above the London borough of Brent in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many helicopter flights have taken place in the Dollis Hill area in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: This information is not held by my Department. I have asked the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services Ltd to write to the hon. Member.

Helicopters

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the (a) environmental and (b) price impacts on residential properties of low flying helicopters in the Dollis Hill area of London; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: None.

Helicopters

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the rules governing helicopter flights above residential areas in South-West London; and what measures are in place to (a) monitor and (b) enforce the rules.

Karen Buck: The Rules of the Air Regulations and the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Specified Area) Regulations govern flight by helicopters over London. For single engine helicopters this includes the use of specified routes and prohibition from the central area of London.
	All helicopter flights in the controlled airspace over London are subject to an air traffic control clearance and compliance with their instructions is monitored by air traffic controllers. Any reported breach of these clearances or regulations are investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority, who are responsible for the enforcement of aviation legislation within the UK.

Highways Agency

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the national co-ordination within the Highways Agency; who is responsible for a national technological strategy for the agency; what management structures are in place to ensure that regional technological developments are compatible; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency takes a co-ordinated approach to applying technology schemes across the country and targets them where they can deliver the maximum benefit.
	The agency's technology strategy steering group is responsible for developing a national traffic technology strategy. This group comprises representatives from all areas of the agency that have a direct input to programme delivery and technology standards development and it, in turn, reports to a sub-group of the Highways Agency board called the strategy and planning group.
	Technology development is undertaken centrally and applied nationally once the technology has been proven and a national standard has been produced. This ensures regional compatibility.

Intelligent Speed Adaptation System

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Intelligent Speed Adaptation system.

Stephen Ladyman: A research project into External Vehicle Speed Control (the technology now more commonly known as Intelligent Speed Adaptation or ISA) was carried out on behalf of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions between 1997 and 2000. The results are available on the Department for Transport website and copies of the executive summary have been placed in the Library.
	A further project into Intelligent Speed Adaptation began in 2001 and is expected to end in December 2006. A draft interim report for the first completed phase has been produced and submitted to the Department. However, as it is important to avoid influencing the behaviour of subsequent groups of drivers, I do not intend to publish this or subsequent interim reports. They will be made available when the project has been completed and the final report submitted.
	In addition the Department has been taking part in SpeedAlert"—a European project looking at work in this field. The consortium's final report is being prepared and when it is complete copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Light Dues

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue from light dues has been collected from ships calling at ports in (a) Scotland, (b) the Isle of Man, (c) England and Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the Republic of Ireland, in each of the last 10 financial years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is set out as follows for the years 1997–98 to 2004–05. We do not have the data broken down in this way prior to 1997.
	
		£
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Scotland 6,628,362 8,034,125 8,929,664 9,110,458 
			 Isle of Man 37,730 44,425 20,636 19,013 
			 England and Wales 51,540,876 54,942,312 55,756,006 57,923,612 
			 Northern Ireland 706,508 617,012 662,504 599,415 
			 Republic of Ireland  (ROI) 2,816,420 3,131,481 3,464,780 3,416,675 
			 Total 61,729,896 66,769,355 68,833,590 71,069,173 
		
	
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Scotland 8,536,211 7,270,784 6,495,877 6,475,266 
			 Isle of Man 19,401 26,075 24,261 22,969 
			 England and Wales 62,489,783 60,343,914 63,510,099 60,825,662 
			 Northern Ireland 662,196 637,722 600,136 586,000 
			 Republic of Ireland  (ROI) 3,077,674 3,363,730 3,482,544 3,053,012 
			 Total 74,785,265 71,642,225 74,112,917 70,962,911 
		
	
	The figures above are for General Light Dues and do not include income from UK fishing vessels and tugs.
	The figures do not include any Light Dues refunds that were made.

Light Dues

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the European Commission regarding compatibility of the light dues tax with European law.

Stephen Ladyman: None.

Light Dues

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the European Commission regarding the light dues tax.

Stephen Ladyman: Under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, the UK Government has a statutory responsibility to fund the Commissioners of Irish Lights, the General Lighthouse Authority (GLA) that provides aids to navigation in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland. The GLAs are funded from the collection of light dues, a system of user charges levied on commercial shipping calling at UK and Republic of Ireland ports. These dues are paid into the General Lighthouse Fund for which the Secretary of State has responsibility. The UK Government do not contribute to the fund.
	We have received representations on light dues from two members of the European Parliament. We have not received any communication from the European Commission.

London Gateway Port Development

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the London Gateway port development, with particular reference to channel dredging and traffic, on possible future uses of the Canvey Island liquid natural gas importation facility; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: All relevant matters would be taken into account in consideration of any application that might be made for a liquefied natural gas importation facility at Canvey Island.

M3

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to resurface the area of the M3 between junctions 12 and 13 with a noise-reducing material.

Stephen Ladyman: This section of the M3 was constructed in 1991 as part of the junction 12 to 14 Pitmore to Chilworth scheme. Noise mitigation measures such as acoustic barriers and noise bunds were included as part of the construction.
	There are no plans for major resurfacing of the section of the M3 motorway between junctions 12 and 13. Resurfacing is carried out for operational reasons to maintain the safety of the carriageway. This section of the M3 is currently in a satisfactory condition and will not require major resurfacing in the foreseeable future.

M60

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in ascertaining the reasons for flooding on the M60 between Denton and Hollinwood, Oldham.

Stephen Ladyman: Investigations have indicated that the surface water problems that occur at specific areas on the predominately four-lane section of M60 between Junction 19 at Middleton and Junction 24 at Denton result from a combination of wide carriageways and the road alignment and crossfall, which cause rainwater to have a long and slow pathway off the carriageway to the drains.
	The design of carriageway modifications to improve the surface water drainage between Junction 24 at Denton and the River Medlock has been completed. Remedial works on this section are expected to start during the autumn and continue in 2006. Further assessment is being carried out on the section between the Medlock River and Junction 19 at Middleton, following which any necessary remedial works will be undertaken.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year.

Karen Buck: The Department has press officers who handle much of its media relations with the support of the Government News Network in the regions. In addition, the Department spent the following amount in each month of 2004–05 on consultancy fees for external media relations primarily to support our marketing activities for example the THINK! road safety campaign.
	
		£
		
			  DfT (central) DfT (agencies) 
		
		
			 2004   
			 April 513 33,000 
			 May 29,478 30,625 
			 June 68,493 40,906 
			 July 42,221 30,650 
			 August 0 30,900 
			 September 32,770 28,765 
			 October 32,640 28,083 
			 November 59,901 29,645 
			 December 30,549 27,645 
			
			 2005   
			 January 22,151 28,795 
			 February 29,524 30,465 
			 March 89,970 33,848

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to start trials on the M42 motorway of using the hard shoulder for regular traffic; over what period such trials are to be carried out; when he expects to reach conclusions on the wider use of hard shoulders; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Introduction of controlled use of hard shoulder running as part of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) Pilot Project on the M42 will begin by March 2007 in line with the published Highways Agency Business Plan target.
	Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation is being undertaken to evaluate the effects of the range of measures introduced as part of ATM and especially of hard shoulder running. Analysis of the data and reporting will take time after the operation commences and in a number of cases robust answers will only be available after a number of months or years.
	Specifically, in order to measure the traffic impact of hard shoulder running a period of 12 months of operation is expected. Due to the relatively low number of accidents that occur on motorways it is anticipated that three years of 'accident data' will be needed before overall conclusions can be reached on the impact of hard shoulder running on safety. Initial conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the various measures implemented on the M42 are therefore expected in 2008.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many safety refuges are in place on motorways in England and Wales; how many are in the course of construction; how many more are planned; and in which locations.

Stephen Ladyman: In respect to the motorway network within England, only the M42 junction 3a to junction 7 currently has formal safety refuges in place. A total of 41 Emergency Refuge Areas were installed as part of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) pilot scheme. No further safety refuges are planned, pending the results of the pilot project.

Multi-Modal Studies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) each of the multi-modal studies that have been published since May 1997 and (b) such studies which are still in progress; and what plans the Government has to produce further studies.

Karen Buck: A programme of Multi-Modal Studies was announced in March 1999. The table sets out the position on each of the studies. In the case of the final study programme we agreed in 2003 to a scoping study rather than a full Multi-Modal Study for the A34 North of Southampton to review the broad scale of problems and key issues on the A34. This reported in 2004 and our response was given to the South East Regional Assembly earlier this year.
	We have no plans for any further Multi-Modal Studies.
	
		Multi-Modal Studies
		
			   Multi-Modal Study   Final report published Date Government announced response to study 
		
		
			 Access to Hastings (A21 and A259) December 2000 12 July 2001 
			 Cambridge to Huntingdon (A14) August 2001 13 December 2001 
			 South East Manchester (Stockport, Manchester Airport Link West, Poynton) September 2001 21 March 2002 
			 West Midlands Area (M5/M6 and M42 between M40 and M6) October 2001 9 July 2003 
			 West Midlands to North West (M6) May 2002 10 December 2002 
			 London to South West and South Wales (A303, M4) May 2002 10 December 2002 
			 A1 (North of Newcastle) Reported May 2002 10 December 2002 
			 North/South Movements in the East Midlands (M1 Junctions 21 to 30) May 2002 10 December 2002 
			 Hull (East/West) Corridor (A63 and A1033 to Port of Hull) July 2002 9 July 2003 
			 A453 (M1 to Nottingham) August 2002 10 December 2002 
			 South Coast (Southampton to Folkestone Coastal Corridor)—(M27, A27 and A259) September 2002 9 July 2003 
			 South and West Yorkshire Motorway Box (M1 J30 to A1 West Yorks/M18/M62 and A1(M) September 2002 9 July 2003 
			 Tyneside Area (A1/A19) November 2002 9 July 2003 
			 ORBIT—Transport Solutions Around London (M25) November 2002 9 July 2003 
			 London to Ipswich (A12) December 2002 9 July 2003 
			 Thames Valley (London to Reading—M4) January 2003 9 July 2003 
			 M60 Junction 12–18 (West to North Manchester) January 2003 9 July 2003 
			 London to South Midlands (A1 , M1 , M11 , A5 and A421 ) February 2003 9 July 2003 
			 Norwich to Peterborough (A47) March 2003 9 July 2003 
			 West Midlands to East Midlands (A38, A42/M42 and M69) August 2003 (29)— 
			 A52 Corridor—(section of the A52 corridor between its junction with the A453 at Clifton Bridge,  west of Nottingham, and its junction with the A46 at Bingham, east of Nottingham.) March 2004 (29)— 
			 A34 North of Southampton April 2004 February 2005 
		
	
	(29) We will consider the recommendations from the West Midlands to East Midlands and A52 Corridor Studies in the light of regional advice on the timing and priority of schemes to be provided under the recently announced Regional Funding Allocations process.

National Street Gazetteer

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) duties and (b) powers local highway authorities possess in relation to the National Street Gazetteer; what information he collects on the extent to which each meets its responsibilities; what communications he has had with or in relation to the Isle of Wight council's performance in this regard; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that all unadopted roads and parts thereof on the island are recorded as such in the Gazetteer.

Karen Buck: The National Street Gazetteer is maintained by a concessionaire appointed under the auspices of the Local Government Association.
	Street Authorities are required, under section 53 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and the Street Works (Registers, Notices, Directions and Designations) Regulations 1992, to maintain a register showing information about works on the streets within their areas.
	This duty ensures that street authorities must keep local street Gazetteers, so that works are identified on the relevant street. The concessionaire relies on the local Gazetteers in compiling the National Street Gazetteer. Central Government has no role in assuring the content of either the national or local street Gazetteers.
	Department for Transport officials have been in communication with the Isle of Wight council about the quality of their local street Gazetteer following representations from a resident on the island.

Pensioners (Free Travel)

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what the total additional cost of introducing free travel for pensioners will be in 2006–07;
	(2)  what the cost to passenger transport areas will be for the provision of free travel for pensioners; and if he will make extra resources available to cover this.

Karen Buck: The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to the concessionary travel authorities, including the passenger transport executives.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 250–51W, on the private initiative, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government balance sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Karen Buck: For the financial year ending 31 March 2005, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's annual accounts showed a capital commitment in relation to the Estates PFI Agreement with Land Securities Trillium of £3.5 million.
	The Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency's MOT computerisation PFI project is off balance sheet.
	For the Highways Agency, the net book value of on-balance sheet PFI tangible fixed assets as at 31 March 2005 was £1,486,286,000. This represents assets held under all on-balance sheet schemes for the Agency. It includes PFI residual interests. PFI assets are valued at the public sector comparator, indexed to December 2004. The value of the liabilities related to on-balance sheet PFI contracts was £866,621,000 as at 31 March 2005. £23,889,000 was payable within one year and the balance thereafter. Figures for individual schemes are not separately identified in the Agency's accounts.
	It is not possible to quantify the proportion of assets and liabilities held on balance sheet, as the value of assets and liabilities off balance sheet for an agency and on balance sheet for the operator is recognised on the balance sheets of the operators. Their accounting policies relating to fixed assets may differ from our own and the value of the liabilities would not include any profit margin. Therefore, figures will not necessarily be comparable.
	For all the Department's Agencies, the accounting policy for PFI contracts is consistent with UK GAAP as interpreted by Treasury guidance. The public sector complies with UK GAAP. The timetable for converging UK GAAP with International Standards is published on the Accounting Standards Board website and the Financial Reporting Advisory Board has plans that closely align with this.

Railways

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects to make an announcement on the award of the new Integrated Kent Franchise;
	(2)  when the Integrated Kent Franchise will begin; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: It is expected that contracts will be signed with the successful bidder before the end of 2005. An announcement will be made at this point.

Railways

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the performance of South East trains (a) since November 2003 and (b) over an equivalent period under the previous franchise company; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: At the end of August 2005, the PPM Moving Annual Average (MAA) for South Eastern Trains (SET) was 85.3 per cent. The PPM MAA in the last period in which Connex South Eastern operated services was 79.4 per cent. This shows an improvement since SET took over the franchise of 5.9 percentage points. This compares to an equivalent improvement of 7.1 percentage points for train services in the South East sector as a whole, where PPM MAA at the end of August stands at 86.4 per cent.
	SET has performed well in improving performance by working closely with Network Rail in order to reduce overall delays on trains and at stations.

Railways

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of increasing the carriage of freight on rail.

Derek Twigg: The Government's key aims for the freight industry are to facilitate the continuing development of a competitive and efficient freight sector while reducing the impact that moving freight has on congestion and the environment. Where the Government receive applications for grant to support the transfer of specific freight movements from road to rail we are able to assess the environmental benefits using a measure of Sensitive Lorry Miles (SLMs) which takes into account the environmental and social benefits of removing lorry journeys from the road. However, SLMs are route specific and cannot be used to make a general assessment of the benefits of transferring freight from road to rail.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent by the rail industry on improving rail safety in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) annual report on health and safety performance on Britain's railways shows that, overall, railway safety has progressed steadily over recent years. Copies of these reports are available in the House library.
	Spending on safety and risk controls is not identified separately by the rail industry or the Department within budget lines as it is an integral part of all investment. For example, new infrastructure and replacement rolling stock will be safer than that which it replaced.

Railways

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers (a) died and (b) were seriously injured while travelling by rail in each year from 1976.

Derek Twigg: Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive's HM Railway Inspectorate are shown in the following table.
	The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR 95) introduced in 1 April 1996 does not distinguish between a serious injury and a minor injury to members of the public. Consequently, for injury data from 1996 onwards, the reporting trigger is that passengers are taken away from the accident site immediately to hospital, which includes minor or possible injuries as well as serious ones. As a result, figures for seriously injured" are not available from 1996–97.
	
		
			  Passengers killed Passengers seriously injured 
		
		
			 1976 30 142 
			 1977 30 129 
			 1978 47 130 
			 1979 52 157 
			 1980 26 166 
			 1981 39 107 
			 1982 20 93 
			 1983 29 86 
			 1984 39 115 
			 1985 33 124 
			 1986 32 169 
			 1987 68 177 
			 1988 69 309 
			 1989 33 268 
			 1990 37 224 
			 1991–92(30) 39 192 
			 1992–93 18 238 
			 1993–94 17 205 
			 1994–95 17 204 
			 1995–96 11 214 
			 1996–97 17 (31)— 
			 1997–98 26 (31)— 
			 1998–99 20 (31)— 
			 1999–2000 47 (31)— 
			 2000–01 21 (31)— 
			 2001–02 13 (31)— 
			 2002–03 23 (31)— 
			 2003–04 12 (31)— 
			 2004(32) 10 (31)— 
		
	
	(30)Covers the 15-month period 1 January 1991 to 31 March 1991.
	(31)Not available due to change in reporting criteria—RIDDOR 95
	(32)Covers a nine-month period 1 April 2004 to 31 December 2004.

Railways

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is responsible for medium-scale rail schemes since the winding-up of the Strategic Rail Authority.

Derek Twigg: Following the reforms set out in the 'Future of Rail' white paper, the previous responsibilities of the Strategic Rail Authority for medium scale rail investment schemes have generally been transferred to Network Rail. The Department for Transport retains a role for some schemes where it has a significant interest, for example where it provides funding for the scheme or if there are major impacts on franchised rail services.

Railways

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of correspondence since 1 January between his Department and Network Rail with regard to railway embankment stabilisation works between Winterbourne Down and Coalpit Heath in South Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: I have placed the correspondence in the Library.

Railways

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) incidents of and (b) prosecutions for (i) vandalism and (ii) trespass on railway lines in London by (A) adults and (B) juveniles there were in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: The number of recorded criminal damage and trespass offences committed over the last five years within the Metropolitan and City of London policing areas within British Transport Police's (BTP) jurisdiction is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Criminal damage Trespass 
		
		
			 2000–01 1,833 217 
			 2001–02 1,901 849 
			 2002–03 2,246 1,439 
			 2003–04 3,411 1,754 
			 2004–05 3,157 1,620 
		
	
	Due to the way BTP records prosecution data, it is not possible to provide prosecution statistics for London only. Therefore, the number of offences prosecuted for criminal damage and trespass based on date of offence are shown separately for the three London BTP areas. The BTP area, London North, covers North London, Northern Home Counties and East Anglia. The BTP area, London South, covers South London and Southern Home Counties. The BTP area, London Underground, covers the entire London Underground network as well as Docklands Light Railway.
	The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Criminal damage Trespass 
			  Adults Juveniles Adults Juveniles 
		
		
			 London North 
			 2000–01 86 46 31 13 
			 2001–02 75 33 31 32 
			 2002–03 94 28 41 16 
			 2003–04 93 21 33 26 
			 2004–05 62 51 76 32 
			  
			 London South 
			 2000–01 100 74 23 21 
			 2001–02 115 43 28 24 
			 2002–03 101 55 42 23 
			 2003–04 89 78 41 38 
			 2004–05 88 59 50 29 
			  
			 London Underground
			 2000–01 83 35 11 10 
			 2001–02 87 49 11 6 
			 2002–03 118 36 14 4 
			 2003–04 109 36 23 3 
			 2004–05 71 92 17 13 
		
	
	Note:
	In reading the data supplied in the table, the following factors should be considered:
	(i) The data supplied shows the number of recorded offences and prosecutions for trespass and criminal damage. The category criminal damage includes offences of criminal damage (including racially aggravated), arson, graffiti and vandalism rolling stock offences.
	(ii) The rise in railway trespass offences is due to an improved internal audit process which has led to a steady improvement in the recording practice of these types of offences.

Railways

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether requirements to tackle overcrowding are included in the Integrated Kent Franchise.

Derek Twigg: The franchise agreement contains an obligation to manage the available resources so as to minimise overcrowding, particularly on peak services.

Road Accidents

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport what discussions he has held with the oil and petroleum industries on the effects of low-level exposure to petrol fumes on the incidence of road accidents.

Stephen Ladyman: No discussions have been held.

Road Accidents

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of exposure to petrol fumes on the incidence of road accidents; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: No assessments have been made by the Department for Transport.

Road Accidents

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people (a) died and (b) were seriously injured in road accidents in each year from 1976.

Stephen Ladyman: The requested information is in the table.
	
		Killed or seriously injured casualties: 1976–2004
		
			  Killed Seriously injured Killed or seriously injured 
		
		
			 1976 6,570 79,531 86,101 
			 1977 6,614 81,681 88,295 
			 1978 6,831 82,518 89,349 
			 1979 6,352 80,544 86,896 
			 1980 5,953 78,906 84,859 
			 1981 5,846 78,259 84,105 
			 1982 5,937 79,745 85,682 
			 1983 5,445 70,623 76,068 
			 1984 5,599 73,059 78,658 
			 1985 5,165 70,980 76,145 
			 1986 5,385 68,757 74,142 
			 1987 5,125 64,293 69,418 
			 1988 5,052 63,491 68,543 
			 1989 5,373 63,158 68,531 
			 1990 5,217 60,441 65,658 
			 1991 4,568 51,618 56,186 
			 1992 4,229 49,256 53,485 
			 1993 3,814 45,020 48,834 
			 1994 3,650 46,540 50,190 
			 1995 3,621 45,533 49,154 
			 1996 3,598 44,499 48,097 
			 1997 3,599 42,984 46,583 
			 1998 3,421 40,834 44,255 
			 1999 3,423 39,122 42,545 
			 2000 3,409 38,155 41,564 
			 2001 3,450 37,110 40,560 
			 2002 3,431 35,976 39,407 
			 2003 3,508 33,707 37,215 
			 2004 3,221 31,130 34,351

Road Accidents

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the number of road fatalities in Forest of Dean constituency in each of the last five years; what the average number for England was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of road accident fatalities in the Forest of Dean constituency and the average number of road accident fatalities per English constituency; for the last five years are in the table.
	
		
			  Forest of Dean England(33) 
		
		
			 2000 10 6 
			 2001 11 6 
			 2002 10 6 
			 2003 9 6 
			 2004 11 5 
		
	
	(33)Includes fatalities for which the constituency in which the accident occurred was not known.
	The comparison between the number of fatalities in any given constituency and the average number across all constituencies takes no account of the differences in area, population, road type and traffic between each constituency.

Road Safety

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department provides for local authorities regarding the siting of (a) speed bumps and (b) chicanes.

Stephen Ladyman: Powers permitting the construction of road humps and traffic calming works are conferred by the Highways Act 1980, sections 90A to 90I. The Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1999 further restrict the location of road humps. Advice on the design and implementation of both road humps and chicanes is given in the Department's traffic advisory leaflets (TALs). I have placed copies of TAL 2/05 Traffic Calming Bibliography", which lists these, in the Libraries of the House.

Roads (London)

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allocate sufficient funding to the Mayor of London for a scheme for improvements to the north circular at Henley's corner, Brent street and Bounds Green.

Stephen Ladyman: The A406 north circular road is the responsibility of Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor, and it is for the Mayor to determine which transport projects he takes forward.

Safety Cameras

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has collated in relation to the change in the number of serious accidents at speed camera sites.

Stephen Ladyman: The effectiveness of the national safety camera programme has been reviewed independently and the reports are available in the Library and on the Department's website. The review of the first three years operation of the programme, published on 15 June 2004, concluded that the number of people killed or seriously injured at camera sites had reduced by 40 per cent. A fourth year report, reflecting the rollout of the programme to thirty five safety camera partnerships, is being prepared.

School Crossing Attendants

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many school crossing attendants there were in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The figures requested are not kept centrally but individually by each borough.

Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on UK participation in the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention of the International Labour Organisation; what biometrics are involved; which UK ports will hold biometric checking devices; and what obligations there are on seamen in UK waters to carry identity cards.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Home Office on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2565W.

South Hampshire Light Rapid Transport System

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects to make a decision on the South Hampshire Light Rapid Transport System;
	(2)  when he expects to announce a decision on the South Hampshire Light Rapid Transport System; and if he will make a statement on the time taken to reach a decision.

Derek Twigg: The Secretary of State made clear the position on the South Hampshire Light Rapid Transport System in his oral statement on 20 July 2004, Official Report, column 159. Since then the scheme's promoters have developed revised proposals which we will decide upon in due course.

Street Works

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benchmark he has established for the current cost of street works to measure changes that will arise from the introduction of permits; how this benchmark was set; what targets he has set for utility companies and highway authorities to improve; and what level of improvements he expects.

Karen Buck: We are developing proposals under the Traffic Management Act 2004 intended to reduce the impact of street works on congestion. This includes thenew concept of permits.
	Consultation earlier this year on these measures revealed widely ranging views on permit fees, and other substantive comments. We are therefore to reconvene a working group on permits, comprising representatives of utility companies and street authorities, to review the fees for permits and the cost to utilities, and other related issues. This will also provide the opportunity to look at how utilities expect to improve their performance. We intend to develop key performance indicators to measure local highway authority performance for their own works, to allow comparison with utility performance.

Street Works

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2005, Official Report, column 934, on roadworks, if he will make a statement on the method by which Halcrow concluded that the cost of congestion caused by utility street works was £4.3 billion per year.

Karen Buck: Details of the methodology are contained in the Halcrow report to Department for Transport, volume 3—Estimation of the Cost of Delay from Utilities' Street Works", dated September 2004. Copies of this document have been placed in the House Library.

Thameslink

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has undertaken on the removal of Thames Link spoil by barge.

Derek Twigg: The 2004 Environmental Statement for the Thameslink 2000 project did consider the potential for the use of river barges for the construction of the project. The document identified that river barges could possibly be used to assist in the construction of Blackfriars station, for example, the transportation of large items of equipment and the removal of material.
	Further consideration of the extent to which river transport can be used will be given once contractors are appointed for the implementation of the project and detailed construction strategies are agreed.

Tonnage Tax

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 September 2005 , Official Report, column 2399W, on the tonnage tax, 
	(1)  for what reasons no prosecutions have resulted for the year 2004–05; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is with regards to prosecuting companies who have failed to make returns on tonnage tax in the specified time; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not routinely prosecute companies which are late in making end of period adjustment returns. We prefer instead to remind them that they should comply with their obligations in this regard, and that there may be penalties (including prosecution) if they fail to do so. We find that this is an efficacious approach—there is now only one complete return outstanding from periods 1 and 2 of 2004–05, for which we are vigorously chasing the company concerned.
	Prosecution is a matter of last resort. We realise that the timely provision of returns is an important matter, but criminal prosecution is always a serious step to take.

Traffic Management Act

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact of the Traffic Management Act 2004 on the Government objectives of (a) improvement to access to broadband, (b) reducing water leakage and conserving water supplies, (c) replacing major energy and water infrastructure and (d) urban regeneration;
	(2)  what his latest estimate is of the costs that will be borne by (a) electricity, (b) gas, (c) water and (d) telecommunications companies arising from the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Karen Buck: We will introduce regulations under the Traffic Management Act 2004 intended to reduce the impact of street works on congestion. The measures will not prevent investment or renewal by utility companies but aim to ensure that work is carried out in a way that minimises the impact on road users. Where street authorities operate permit schemes fees will be payable by utilities for permits. These will be payable to Street Authorities to reflect the resource required for them to consider works by utility companies under the more proactive permit arrangements which are intended to improve control and co-ordination of street works by authorities.
	The consultation on these measures revealed widely ranging views on permit fees, and other aspects of this new concept. we are therefore to reconvene a working group on permits, comprising representatives of utility companies and Street Authorities, which advised on the permit proposals, to look at the proposed fees for permits.

Transport

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what progress he has made in considering the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Strategy submitted to his Department on 4th April;
	(2)  what progress has been made in his consideration of the Manchester Metrolink Phase 2.

Derek Twigg: The Integrated Transport Strategy for Greater Manchester incorporates proposals for Metrolink Phase III into a wider package of measures. The Department has had a number of discussions with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive concerning their strategy and these are continuing.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the relationship is between the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and the Rail Passengers Council North West.

Derek Twigg: The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) are our statutory advisers on the transport and mobility needs of disabled people. The committee had no links with the Rail Passengers Council North West but the Rail Passengers Council (like its predecessor) has been invited to participate in the DPTAC Rail Working Group.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to select the members of the Rail Passengers Council GB; and what the process was for their selection.

Derek Twigg: The process by which the new Rail Passengers Council members were appointed by the Secretary of State was regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and in line with the code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies, which is issued by OCPA. The process was validated by an independent assessor.
	The criteria against which applications for membership of the Rail Passengers Council were assessed were published in the application pack. The essential criteria were:
	Proven leadership and strategic thinking skills;
	Frequent user of National Rail services;
	Demonstrate understanding of passenger issues;
	Ability to build credible, constructive relationships with all sections of the rail industry and its stakeholders;
	Ability to build credible, constructive relationships with the chairman, other members and staff of the Rail Passengers Council;
	Knowledge of a specialist field such as:
	Consumer affairs;
	Customer facing business;
	Rail industry;
	Integrated transport;
	Business use of rail;
	Regulatory affairs;
	Disability and access issues;
	Social exclusion and transport;
	Consumer/community empowerment;
	Campaigning;
	Media and/or public relations;
	Local government;
	Regional government.
	Desire to create a leading consumer organisation.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken to ensure that (a) issues affecting disabled passengers and (b) regional issues are dealt with effectively by the Rail Passengers Council GB.

Derek Twigg: The Rail Passenger Council (RPC) will establish its own work programme, which will include setting up a working group which will ensure that the new RPC is accessible to, and inclusive of, the needs of disabled passengers and other groups of vulnerable consumers.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department took to ensure an appropriate regional spread in the membership of the Rail Passengers Council GB.

Derek Twigg: The members of the Rail Passengers Council (RPC) appointed by the Secretary of State were not appointed to represent particular geographical areas. They were appointed because they best demonstrated the published criteria for membership of the new RPC. As members of a single, national body, covering all parts of Great Britain, members of the RPC are expected to represent passengers on this basis, working in partnership with the RPC staff.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport where each member of the Rail Passenger Council GB (a) lives and (b) works.

Derek Twigg: The 14 appointed members of the new Rail Passengers Council (RPC) live in Monmouthshire, Fife, Cambridgeshire (three), Shropshire, Norfolk, East Yorkshire, Worcestershire, Hertfordshire, London (two), Kent and East Lothian. The appointment by the National Assembly for Wales is still to be made.
	The Department does not hold information on the work locations of the members of the RPC.

Transport

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with (a) the regional passenger councils, (b) other groups and organisations representing passengers and (c) groups and organisations representing disabled passengers about the creation of Rail Passengers Council GB.

Derek Twigg: As set out in the Future of Rail White Paper, Ministers supported proposals for reform from the then RPC chair, Stewart Francis. A wide range of stakeholders were consulted in developing these proposals further. These stakeholders included the regional Rail Passenger Committees (some of whom had links to regional Passenger Transport User Forums), other groups and organisations representing passengers (for example, Rail User Groups), the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and the Disability Rights Commission.

Transport

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria will be used for the approval of schemes for the Transport Innovation Scheme.

Derek Twigg: Information on the objectives and operation of the Transport Innovation fund was published on 5 July 2005 in the paper The Transport Innovation Fund". This paper outlined the characteristics that successful schemes would meet. More detailed guidance on the operation of the fund, including information on the application and decision making process, will be published by the end of 2005.

US Prisoners

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the dates when UK (a) territory and (b) airspace has been used for the transport of persons held as prisoners by US civilian or military authorities in the past 12 months.

Karen Buck: International and national aviation regulations do not require the provision of passenger information when transiting UK territory or airspace. The UK Government have not received any requests, nor granted any permissions, for the use of UK territory or airspace for the purpose raised in the hon. Member's question.

Vehicle Ownership

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of cars owned in (a) Brent East, (b) each London borough, (c) London and (d) England in each year since 1997; and what percentage of the total he estimates were four-wheel drive in each year.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is detailed in the table:
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 Brent East 22,000 23,000 23,000 24,000 
			  
			 City of London 16,000 14,000 11,000 9,000 
			 Barking and Dagenham 45,000 46,000 47,000 48,000 
			 Barnet 115,000 117,000 119,000 120,000 
			 Bexley 85,000 87,000 88,000 90,000 
			 Brent 77,000 79,000 80,000 81,000 
			 Bromley 121,000 124,000 126,000 127,000 
			 Camden 47,000 48,000 49,000 51,000 
			 Croydon 123,000 124,000 121,000 122,000 
			 Ealing 100,000 103,000 105,000 101,000 
			 Enfield 99,000 101,000 103,000 103,000 
			 Greenwich 58,000 59,000 61,000 62,000 
			 Hackney 38,000 39,000 40,000 40,000 
			 Hammersmith and  Fulham 37,000 38,000 39,000 39,000 
			 Haringey 56,000 57,000 59,000 58,000 
			 Harrow 88,000 89,000 90,000 90,000 
			 Havering 90,000 91,000 92,000 94,000 
			 Hillingdon 142,000 134,000 131,000 123,000 
			 Hounslow 75,000 78,000 80,000 89,000 
			 Islington 40,000 41,000 38,000 38,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 43,000 43,000 43,000 43,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 57,000 57,000 58,000 59,000 
			 Lambeth 60,000 61,000 67,000 65,000 
			 Lewisham 65,000 66,000 68,000 69,000 
			 Merton 64,000 65,000 64,000 65,000 
			 Newham 51,000 52,000 54,000 55,000 
			 Redbridge 82,000 84,000 85,000 87,000 
			 Richmond upon Thames 66,000 67,000 72,000 71,000 
			 Southwark 55,000 55,000 59,000 60,000 
			 Sutton 73,000 74,000 75,000 76,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 35,000 37,000 35,000 36,000 
			 Waltham Forest 63,000 64,000 66,000 67,000 
			 Wandsworth 110,000 111,000 113,000 115,000 
			 City of Westminster 62,000 62,000 61,000 59,000 
			  
			 London 2,339,000 2,369,000 2,401,000 2,414,000 
			  
			 England 19,574,000 20,006,000 20,468,000 20,973,000 
			  
			 44/SUV percentage 3.8% 4.4% 4.5% 4.5% 
		
	
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Brent East 25,000 25,000 25,000 26,000 
			  
			 City of London 6,000 5,000 5,000 4,000 
			 Barking and Dagenham 49,000 50,000 51,000 53,000 
			 Barnet 123,000 125,000 127,000 129,000 
			 Bexley 92,000 94,000 95,000 97,000 
			 Brent 83,000 85,000 85,000 87,000 
			 Bromley 130,000 132,000 133,000 136,000 
			 Camden 53,000 53,000 52,000 51,000 
			 Croydon 125,000 126,000 126,000 128,000 
			 Ealing 103,000 105,000 105,000 107,000 
			 Enfield 106,000 108,000 109,000 111,000 
			 Greenwich 65,000 66,000 68,000 71,000 
			 Hackney 42,000 42,000 42,000 43,000 
			 Hammersmith and  Fulham 39,000 39,000 39,000 42,000 
			 Haringey 60,000 61,000 62,000 63,000 
			 Harrow 93,000 89,000 89,000 91,000 
			 Havering 95,000 97,000 99,000 101,000 
			 Hillingdon 121,000 118,000 115,000 118,000 
			 Hounslow 95,000 95,000 94,000 97,000 
			 Islington 39,000 39,000 40,000 40,000 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 45,000 46,000 47,000 47,000 
			 Kingston upon Thames 60,000 62,000 61,000 62,000 
			 Lambeth 66,000 66,000 66,000 65,000 
			 Lewisham 70,000 71,000 72,000 74,000 
			 Merton 65,000 66,000 66,000 67,000 
			 Newham 57,000 59,000 59,000 61,000 
			 Redbridge 89,000 91,000 92,000 94,000 
			 Richmond upon Thames 71,000 72,000 73,000 74,000 
			 Southwark 60,000 61,000 60,000 61,000 
			 Sutton 78,000 77,000 78,000 80,000 
			 Tower Hamlets 36,000 37,000 37,000 39,000 
			 Waltham Forest 68,000 69,000 70,000 72,000 
			 Wandsworth 116,000 107,000 102,000 98,000 
			 City of Westminster 61,000 61 ,000 60,000 59,000 
			  
			 London 2,461,000 2,473,000 2,480,000 2,523,000 
			  
			 England 21,539,000 22,052,000 22,382,000 22,921,000 
			  
			 44/SUV percentage 4.9% 5.4% 6.2% 7.0%

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Courts

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which agency is responsible for the administration of the courts.

Harriet Harman: Her Majesty's Courts Service is responsible for the administration of the courts in England and Wales. HMCS started operation on 1 April 2005 and brought together, for the first time, all Crown, county and magistrates courts.

Courts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many trials in the Crown court lasted for a duration of nine months or more in each of the last 10 years.

Harriet Harman: I will write to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire once the information is available.
	Substantive answer from Harriet Harman to Oliver Heald:
	You tabled a question for answer on 6 June in which you asked for information about the number of Crown Court trials that had taken place in the past ten years that had lasted more than nine months.
	I wrote to you at that time to tell you that date was not then currently available to enable me to provide you with that information since work was still under way to enable detailed information to be extracted from court-based IT systems. I did, however indicate that I expected that work would be completed by the end of this month.
	I am writing to you now to let you know that data is now available, although the court-based system from which it is extracted does not contain data before 1997. I can, however tell you that between 1997 and the end of June this year there have been eight completed trials in the Crown Court which have lasted more than nine months from the first day of the trial to the eventual outcome, that is to say either the conviction or acquittal of the defendant(s).

EU Electors

Greg Hands: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many EU citizens are entitled to vote in local elections in each London borough; and what percentage of the total electorate this represents in each borough.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Greg Hands, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many EU citizens are entitled to vote in local elections in each London borough, and the percentage of the total electorate this represents in each borough. (15761)
	The attached table provides figures for December 2004 on the portion of the local government electorate for each London Borough (and the City of London) that are entitled to vote through European Union citizenship.
	
		Total European/Local Government Electorate and Electorate Entitled to Vote through European Union Citizenship, December 2004
		
			 London borough Electorate Qualifying through European Union Citizenship(34)(5508110035) Total European/Local Government Electorate Percentage of European/Local Electorate Qualifying through EU Citizenship 
		
		
			 City of London 333 6,018 5.5 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,756 119,372 1.5 
			 Barnet 8,004 214,421 3.7 
			 Bexley 1,369 171,904 0.8 
			 Brent 10,252 180,665 5.7 
			 Bromley 3,458 228,983 1.5 
			 Camden 11,378 144,326 7.9 
			 Croydon 5,010 246,866 2.0 
			 Ealing 11,685 215,814 5.4 
			 Enfield 6,048 194,611 3.1 
			 Greenwich 5,055 160,176 3.2 
			 Hackney 6,904 129,274 5.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 10,460 116,144 9.0 
			 Haringey 9,495 152,486 6.2 
			 Harrow 3,739 162,049 2.3 
			 Havering 947 175,668 0.5 
			 Hillingdon 3,852 181,145 2.1 
			 Hounslow 5,759 165,583 3.5 
			 Islington 6,904 120,297 5.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 14,608 98,629 14.8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,340 99,014 3.4 
			 Lambeth 13,016 203,055 6.4 
			 Lewisham 5,650 177,731 3.2 
			 Merton 6,184 135,678 4.6 
			 Newham 7,651 171,815 4.5 
			 Redbridge 2,319 181,192 1.3 
			 Richmond upon Thames 4,614 120,146 3.8 
			 Southwark 7,664 180,173 4.3 
			 Sutton 2,069 131,315 1.6 
			 Tower Hamlets 5,180 145,444 3.6 
			 Waltham Forest 5,547 159,399 3.5 
			 Wandsworth 11,378 211,816 5.4 
			 Westminster 15,402 135,810 11.3 
		
	
	(34)These data are as reported by each London Borough to ONS.
	(35)Excludes British and Irish citizens, and also Maltese and Cypriot citizens who qualify as Commonwealth citizens.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Juries

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent research has been conducted into juries' deliberations.

Harriet Harman: The law currently forbids any research into jury deliberations. In January 2005 my Department published a Consultation Paper—Jury Research and Impropriety" and the relevant consultation period finished on 15 April. The responses have been analysed and an announcement of the Government's intentions for any change will be made shortly.

Juries

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether (a) the trial judge and (b) the Court of Appeal is permitted to inquire into alleged impropriety by a jury.

Harriet Harman: A trial judge is permitted to investigate alleged impropriety by jurors before the jury gives its verdict. If the alleged impropriety comes to light after a verdict has been given then the Court of Appeal is permitted to investigate.

Legal Aid Budget

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which 12 barristers received the most money from the (a) criminal legal aid budget and (b) civil legal aid budget in each of the last three years; how much each received in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested has to be extracted from different computer system across Legal Service Commission and my Department and collecting and collating that data will take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.

Legal Aid Budget

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which was the most expensive case for the (a) criminal and (b) civil legal aid budget in 2004–05; how much was paid by way of (i) brief fee and (ii) refreshers to each of the barristers concerned; how much was paid to each solicitors firm involved; who the (A) barristers and (B) solicitors were; and if she will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Payments relating to one specific case may be spread over a number of financial years and identifying those will take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as the information is available.
	Substantive answer from Bridget Prentice to Andrew Dismore:
	You tabled a question asking which 12 barristers received the most money from the (a) criminal legal aid budget and (b) civil legal aid budget in each of the last three years; how much each received in each year; and if I would make a statement.
	I said I would write when the information had been collated and the individuals had been notified. A number of issues were raised by the Bar Council and some of the individuals were concerned about the explanatory notes used in the past. These have now been addressed and I am now in a position to respond. I enclose a set of tables showing the twelve highest earning barristers for criminal and civil work in each of the last three years together with explanatory notes.
	
		Highest Paid Barristers—Criminal Defence Service
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2004–05  
			 James Sturman Q.C. 1,180,000 
			 Simon Bourne-Arton Q.C. 902,000 
			 Kalyani Kaul 766,000 
			 Gilbert Gray Q.C. 755,000 
			 Balbir Singh 750,000 
			 Peter Griffiths Q.C. 690,000 
			 Trevor Burke Q.C. 683,000 
			 Thomas Derbyshire 668,000 
			 George Carter-Stephenson Q.C. 653,000 
			 David Spens Q.C. 639,000 
			 Vincent Coughlin Q.C. 627,000 
			 Charles Benson 621,000 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 Richard Ferguson Q.C. 864,000 
			 Oliver Blunt Q.C. 839,000 
			 John C. Rees Q.C. 803,000 
			 Abbas Lakha Q.C. 668,000 
			 Courtenay Griffiths Q.C. 667,000 
			 David H. Evans Q.C. 653,000 
			 Nigel Lithman Q.C. 652,000 
			 David Fish Q.C. 624,000 
			 Kenneth MacDonald Q.C. 597,000 
			 Michael Harrison Q.C. 595,000 
			 Anthony Arlidge Q.C. 566,000 
			 Malcolm Swift Q.C. 547,000 
			   
			 2002–03(36)  
			 Abbas Lakha(37)Q.C. 800,000 
			 Oliver Blunt(38) Q.C. 703,000 
			 John C. Rees Q.C. 664,000 
			 Malcolm Swift Q.C. 637,000 
			 James Sturman Q.C. 626,000 
			 Christopher Sallon Q.C. 603,000 
			 Howard Godfrey Q.C. 596,000 
			 Jonathan Hall Q.C. 563,000 
			 Robin Grey Q.C. 558,000 
			 Michel Massih Q.C. 551,000 
			 Richard Marks Q.C. 544,000 
			 Andrew Bright Q.C. 537,000 
		
	
	(36)The list for 2002–03 differs slightly from that previously released. This is because additional payments were made to a barrister who would not otherwise have made it into the original list at the time of its release.
	(37)Received Silk after 2002–03.
	(38)Includes payments made which were not previously attributable to this practitioner (See note 4 in other qualifications).
	
		Highest Paid Barristers—Community Legal Serving
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2004–05  
			 Ajmalul Hossain Q.C. 536,000 
			 Paul Storey Q.C. 448,000 
			 Jeremy Rosenblatt 418,000 
			 Simeon Maskrey Q.C. 332,000 
			 Alison Ball Q.C. 315,000 
			 Jonathan Baker Q.C. 311,000 
			 Anthony Hayden Q.C. 288,000 
			 Stephen Knafler 283,000 
			 Michael Keehan Q.C. 272,000 
			 Robert Littlewood 251,000 
			 Henry Setright Q.C. 245,000 
			 Andrew McFarlane Q.C. 236,000 
			   
			 2003–04  
			 Paul Storey Q.C. 522,000 
			 Elizabeth Gumbel Q.C. 467,000 
			 Sally Bradley Q.C. 455,000 
			 Stephen Knafler 445,000 
			 Ian Peddie Q.C. 436,000 
			 Pamela Scriven Q.C. 426,000 
			 Jonathan Baker Q.C. 376,000 
			 Michael Redfern Q.C. 374,000 
			 Jeremy Rosenblatt 353,000 
			 David Vaughan Q.C. 352,000 
			 Alison Russell 345,000 
			 Robin Tolson Q.C. 338,000 
			   
			 2002–03  
			 Lord Brennan Q.C. 606,000 
			 Elizabeth Gumbel Q.C. 470,000 
			 Paul Storey Q.C. 449,000 
			 John Rowley 329,000 
			 Sally Bradley Q.C. 328,000 
			 Stephen Irwin Q.C. 314,000 
			 Joanna Dodson Q.C. 284,000 
			 Alison Ball Q.C. 279,000 
			 Robin Oppenheim 277,000 
			 Eleanor Hamilton Q.C. 277,000 
			 Simeon Maskrey Q.C. 269,000 
			 Jeremy Rosenblatt 249,000 
		
	
	These figures must be interpreted carefully and do not represent the personal earnings of the individuals listed in any one year. There are a number of reasons for this.
	1. The amounts paid to each barrister listed represent payments for work covering many years, for a variety of cases. The amount an individual receives in any year fluctuates widely, and is to a large extent due to the variety of payment processes and schemes used by the Legal Services Commission and the Courts.
	2. All the figures listed are inclusive of VAT (17.5 per cent) as paid, and disbursements incurred (e.g. travelling). Individuals must pay that VAT to HM Revenue & Customs.
	3. Barristers will typically pay 25–30 per cent, of fees in professional expenses. Additionally, barristers face the same expenses as any other self employed person, including income tax and National Insurance contributions.
	A number of other qualifications need to be added to these figures.
	1. Payments are made after claims are carefully scrutinised by the Legal Services Commission or the Courts, and where necessary adjusted. The Legal Services Commission and the Courts may make payments many years after cases conclude.
	2. While these figures represent gross payments actually made to the barristers during the year, some of those monies have been (or may in the future be) repaid to the Community Legal Service Fund by other parties. This will happen in cases where the legally aided party wins the case and recovers costs from the opponent. Once those costs are recovered the legally aided party's solicitor refunds some or all of the money to the CLS Fund. As a consequence the figures may not reflect the actual cost of the barristers' fees to the Fund. In some cases where costs are recovered from the losing party the actual cost to the CLS Fund may be very little or even nothing.
	3. Not all payments could be verified with all the individuals concerned. Cases in dispute, where amounts listed as being paid to individual barristers were identified from records held by the Department and the Legal Services Commission, and the practitioner has no such record, have been included. Where possible, amounts have been verified by practitioners and adjusted where necessary.
	4. For the CDS, not all payments are recorded centrally in a way that can be attributed to a barrister. Also not all payments made to barristers are recorded in the database used to compile the list. These include manual legal aid payments and a small number of bills paid on account and payments made in the high court. Therefore, it is possible that the list could change in future following the inclusion of such payments in light of further information and subsequent verification.

Magistrates (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  whether there is a shortage of magistrates to administer justice within the County of Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what steps the Government is taking to encourage the recruitment of additional magistrates to administer justice within the County of Bedfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: There are currently 307 magistrates serving in the two benches; Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire and Luton and South Bedfordshire. Although there is a shortfall of 47 magistrates on the Luton and South Bedfordshire Bench, there are sufficient numbers of magistrates on the bench to administer justice in the area.
	The Government introduced the Magistrates National Recruitment Strategy (MNRS) on 7 October 2003 as part of a wider Supporting Magistrates to Provide Justice Programme. It's three main objectives are:
	To recruit and retain magistrates from a diverse spectrum of the population
	To raise the profile of the magistracy and dispel generally held misconceptions about its make-up and entry requirements
	To support the appointments process
	The MNRS complements the Magistrates Shadowing Scheme, which is aimed at encouraging more people from ethnic minorities to apply to become magistrates and to gain valuable insight into the roles and responsibilities of a magistrate. The Bedfordshire Advisory Committee area has been selected to participate in the Magistrates Shadowing Scheme.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the average opium production in Afghanistan on 1 January (a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2005.

Kim Howells: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. Full details can be found on their website http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/crop_monitoring.html.
	According to the survey, opium production in 1997 and 2000 was estimated as follows:
	
		
			  Production (tonnes) 
		
		
			 1997 2,804 
			 2000 3,276 
		
	
	On 29 August, the executive director of the UNODC Costa announced provisional cultivation and production figures for 2004–05 from their annual poppy survey. They estimated that opium production was around 4,100 metric tonnes (mt), a decrease of only 100 tonnes (2.4 per cent.) compared to 2004. Good weather and an absence of crop disease were responsible for a significant increase in yield since last year. UNODC will publish their final report in October, but these figures are unlikely to change. The yield figures are disappointing, but the cultivation figures give a better picture of farmers' intentions (a 21 per cent. reduction in poppy cultivation from 131,000 hectares (ha) in 2003–04 to 104,000 ha in 2004–05).

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what he attributes the increase in opium production in Afghanistan since 2001.

Kim Howells: In July 2000, the Taliban imposed a ban on opium poppy cultivation. By July 2001, the tactics they employed had led to a 91 per cent. reduction. This ban was enforced with a combination of fear and bribery, and led to a rise in the price of opium so that those with opium stockpiles profited, many of whom colluded with the Taliban Government.
	The lack of a viable central state and war-damaged infrastructure in Afghanistan created conditions in which opium cultivation could thrive once again. Opium is highly profitable for those controlling land, and for the warlords and Governors controlling peripheral parts of this mountainous country. There has been little incentive for them to engage with the embryonic central state and, until recently, government institutions have been unable to impact on the trade. President Karzai, with support from the international community, is working hard to change this and is increasing central government presence in the provinces. The President has made clear that eliminating opium is vital for Afghanistan's future and is key to stability.
	Progress has been made. The provisional cultivation and production figures for 2004–05 announced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in August show an estimated 21 per cent. reduction in poppy cultivation over the previous year. Production and yield, however, are expected to be down since last year by only 2.4 per cent. as good weather and an absence of crop disease brought about a significant increase in yield. It is going to take a long time to uproot something so deeply entrenched in Afghanistan's culture and economy. But like the Afghans, the UK has always maintained that we are in this for the long term.

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Government have had with their international partners on the co-ordination of the fight against the Afghan drug trade.

Kim Howells: The international community is providing assistance across all strands of the Government of Afghanistan's 2005 counter narcotics (CN) implementation plan. We are working with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other international partners, including the US, who have significant resources to bring to this issue and are very engaged. However, to date, levels of international assistance to the Afghanistan CN effort have struggled to match the scale of the problem. The UK Government are using their G8 lead nation status for Afghanistan CN to press for increased commitments, particularly in G8 and EU fora. We welcome in this respect the G8 Foreign and Home Ministers' recognition of the need for increased finance and capacity-building for CN, when they met in June this year. We are engaged bilaterally with a range of countries who have expressed an interest in providing specific support. We are encouraging them to channel funding through the Government of Afghanistan's CN Trust Fund (CNTF), and to provide mentors for the CN Criminal Justice Task Force and CN Police of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the funding allocated by the UK Government to combat the drugs trade in Afghanistan over the last three years has been spent.

Kim Howells: The UK has provided some £300 million in development assistance to Afghanistan over the last three years which includes humanitarian assistance and support for security sector reform and counter-narcotics (CN). I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of York regarding financial assistance provided to Afghanistan on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 546W.
	The UK, as lead nation on CN, remains committed to supporting the Afghan Government in the implementation of their comprehensive 2005 CN Implementation Plan and in updating their national drug control strategy. We continue to work with the Afghan Government and others to increase activity in all areas of their strategy. As well as co-ordinating the activity of international partners, we are providing substantial financial and practical support—spending more than £100 million over the period 2003–06.
	I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton (Mr. Gibb) on the counter narcotics programme in Afghanistan on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 235W. On 5 September, I announced new UK funding for Afghan CN in a joint press conference with Afghan CN Minister Qaderi. The UK is to provide more than £270 million over the next three years. £130 million of the funding will be provided by the Department for International Development (DFID) with the rest coming from other Government Departments including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Ministry of Defence (MOD). I intend to make a further statement to the House in the next month.

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Defence Secretary on the deployment of troops to Afghanistan during 2005 to tackle the opium trade.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (John Reid) on a range of issues regarding Afghanistan, including both our military commitments in the country and our counter narcotics initiatives. Beneath this, there are the monthly Afghan strategy group meetings, attended by senior officials including representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence, and a cross Government ministerial level meeting, chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, which meets fortnightly and addresses the four key Afghan strands of governance, security, counter narcotics and reconstruction.

Biocontamination

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs further to his answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 734W, on bio-contamination, if he will list the Government research groups examining more effective methods of detecting potentially dangerous contaminants received through the post.

Jack Straw: The Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office is responsible for assessing commercially available equipment used for detecting potentially dangerous contaminants received through the post.

Common Fisheries Policy

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals have been advanced under the UK presidency of the EU, for the reform of the common fisheries policy; and what discussions Ministers and officials in his Department had on this subject at the General Affairs Council on 18and 19 July 2005.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the White Paper entitled Prospects for the EU in 2005—The UK presidency of the Union" presented to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 30 June 2005. A copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Library of the House. This sets out the UK presidency's plan for taking forward the EU fisheries negotiations. Fisheries was not discussed at the July General Affairs Council.

Council of Europe

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy on the development of the Council of Europe.

Douglas Alexander: The Government believe the Council of Europe has an important role to play in promoting and protecting human rights, pluralist democracy and the rule of law throughout its 46 European member states. It is unique in enforcing human rights via its Court and Conventions.
	The Council of Europe has a continuing long-term role in helping new democracies establish the institutions needed to uphold common European values. We support the development of closer links with other international organisations, such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the EU.
	The Government welcomed the outcome of the Council of Europe's Third Summit in May 2005. The Summit's Declaration reaffirmed that the Council of Europe will pursue its core objective of preserving and promoting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and that all its activities must contribute to this fundamental objective. The Government fully endorses this.

Cyprus

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Cyprus regarding the occupied part of the island; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary met their Cypriot counterparts on 26 July 2005. They discussed a range of issues including prospects for a resumption of settlement negotiations, and measures to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
	Furthermore the Prime Minister and President Papadopoulos agreed in principle to set out a structured dialogue between our two countries to discuss matters of mutual interest in the EU, and the Cyprus problem. Our officials also regularly discuss all aspects of the Cyprus problem with their Cypriot counterparts.

EU Accession

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much (a) state and (b) EU aid (i) has been authorised and (ii) has been calculated as required to modernise the Bulgarian and Romanian (A) steel, (B) transport, (C) fisheries, (D) oil and (E) farm sectors, in the context of EU accession.

Douglas Alexander: The EU provides extensive financial assistance to candidate countries via the Poland and Hungary Assistance for Restructuring of their Economies (PHARE), the Special Accession Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (SAPARD) and the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre Accession (ISPA) programmes, in order to help them meet the necessary EU standards and in line with the relevant pre-accession strategy for each country. PHARE provides assistance for projects in the field of implementation of the acquis, economic and social cohesion and cross-border co-operation. ISPA helps to finance environment and transport infrastructure. SAPARD provides assistance for projects in agriculture and rural development. EU funds are disbursed through annual project bids and the recipient countries are required to co-finance the projects agreed.
	
		Bulgaria has been authorised to receive in the period 2000–06
		
			  € billion 
		
		
			 PHARE 1.42 
			 ISPA 0.877 
			 SAPARD 0.415 
			 Total 2.712 
		
	
	
		Romania has been authorised to receive in the period 2000–06
		
			  € billion 
		
		
			 PHARE 0.939 
			 ISPA 2.02 
			 SAPARD 1.3 
			 Total 4.259 
		
	
	For the first three years after accession, a further €16billion has been earmarked for Bulgaria and Romania together. This will cover the same areas as PHARE, ISPA and SAPARD in the pre-accession period.
	We do not maintain figures on the state aid provided by candidate countries to industry. Bulgaria and Romania will, under the terms of their Accession Treaty, be required to provide details of this within four months after accession.

EU Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Fraud Prevention

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representatives to the EU Advisory Committee for theCo-ordination of Fraud Prevention; when the group last met; when it next plans to meet; whether it has addressed whistleblower cases; and what its work programme is.

Douglas Alexander: The EU Advisory Committee for the Co-ordination of Fraud Prevention is made up of delegations from each of the member states, and is chaired by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Delegations' composition varies according to the subject matter discussed. The UK delegation normally includes a representative of HM Treasury's EU Finance Team. The Committee last met on 31 May 2005 and its next meeting is provisionally scheduled for 25–26 October. The Committee normally meets about three to four times a year. Its work programme is set at short notice, in response to current issues. The Committee has never formally discussed whistleblower cases.

EU Bodies

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) role and (b) duties of (i) the Security Office of the General Secretariat of the Council and (ii) the European Commission Security Directorate are, with particular reference to powers over UK nationals; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The role and duties of the Security Office of the General Secretariat of the Council are to protect persons, buildings, property, activities and classified information in the premises of the EU Council and of its General Secretariat. In pursuit of this role and in accordance with the Council Security Regulations, Security Office staff inspect and assess security arrangements and make recommendations to ensure that Council security is maintained. They also enforce the security rules in force on Council premises. The security rules apply to citizens of all countries working in, or visiting, Council premises. That includes UK citizens.
	Full information about the Security Office's role is contained in the EU legislative acts which define the Security Office's mandate, Council Decision 2001/264/EC of 19 March 2001, and Council Secretary General/High Representative Decision 127/01 of 28 June 2001. The text of the Council Decision can be found in the Official Journal of the European Communities: L 101 of 11 April 2001, p. 10.
	The role and duties of the European Commission Security Directorate are similar to those of the Council General Secretariat Security Office, but apply to the Commission's premises.

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office network extends to hundreds of posts worldwide, including over 50 posts in the EU. All contract for services locally. Contracts are awarded in line with the UK's objective of achieving value for money and in line with EU Treaty obligations on transparency and free movement of goods and services. Compiling a full list of contractors based in other EU member states providing services to the department would incur disproportionate cost.

General Lighthouse Fund

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Department for Transport regarding the cessation of payments from the UK general lighthouse fund for the provision of navigational aids in Irish territorial waters.

Douglas Alexander: After initial contact from Department for Transport officials, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office helped to put them into direct contact with their Irish counterparts to discuss the funding of navigational aids in UK and Irish waters.

Gibraltar

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of negotiations with Spain on the future of Gibraltar.

Douglas Alexander: There are currently no negotiations between the UK and Spain on the future of Gibraltar.
	The Trilateral Forum, created through a joint statement by the Governments of Spain, the United Kingdom and Gibraltar on 16 December 2004 gives an equal voice for all three parties to discuss matters relating to Gibraltar. Any party may raise any issue relating to Gibraltar in this forum.
	So far, the forum has concentrated on areas of possible local co-operation, including expanded use of the airport, telephones, pensions and problems at the border.

Iraq

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 12 July 2005, Official report, column 877W, on Iraq, if he will make a statement on the development of a Secretary General/High Representative for Iraq in the context of paragraph 9 of Council Joint Action 2005/190/CFSP of 7 March, Official Journal, L62 vol 48 of 9 March.

Douglas Alexander: There is no Secretary General/High Representative for Iraq. Paragraph 9 of the aforementioned Council Joint Action refers to Javier Solana, the Secretary General of the European Union and its High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Israel

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Israeli security wall.

Kim Howells: We fully recognise Israel's right to self-defence. A barrier is a reasonable way to achieve this. But the barrier's route should be on or behind the Green Line, and not on occupied territory. Construction of the barrier on Palestinian land is illegal.
	On 15 September the Israeli High Court ordered the re-routing of the barrier around Alfei Menashe, a West Bank settlement near the Green Line, because of its damaging impact on Palestinian villagers in the area. This ruling will reduce the humanitarian impact of the barrier in that area. However, we continue to be concerned at the route of the barrier on occupied territory. The route is particularly damaging around Jerusalem, as this risks cutting the city off from the West Bank and dividing the West Bank in two.
	We continue to raise our concerns over the barrier with the Israeli Government at all levels. Most recently I discussed this with Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Housing Minister Isaac Herzog during my visit to Israel on the 28–29 September.

Lebanon

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in the Lebanon; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government of Fouad Siniora is committed to addressing the need for political, economic and security sector reforms in Lebanon. The UK stands ready to assist the Lebanese Government to implement these reforms. This was demonstrated by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's participation in a meeting of like-minded Foreign Ministers to support Lebanon on 19 September.
	We are concerned by the recent bomb explosions in and around Beirut, which have killed one person and injured over 30. We condemn all such attacks which seek to destabilise Lebanon. The UK supports full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1614, both of which promote the sovereignty of Lebanon, and encourages all parties in Lebanon to assist with their implementation.

Moldova

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his Department's policy towards Moldova, with particular reference to Romanian accession to the EU.

Douglas Alexander: Romania's accession to the EU will mean that the opportunities and challenges associated with Moldova, including the problems presented by the frozen conflict in Transnistria, will lie on the EU's common external border. This will strengthen the EU's common interest in Moldova. We fully support the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which aims to share the benefits of the EU's enlargement with neighbouring countries and prevent the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. We continue to encourage Moldova to implement the reforms set out in the jointly agreed ENP Action Plan, which was launched in February this year.
	We are also anxious to see progress towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Transnistria and fully support a more active role for the EU in efforts to find a solution. In this context we welcome the appointment and work of the EU Special Representative, the EU's participation as an observer to the five-sided negotiation process, and the decision to send an EU border assistance mission to Moldova.

Services in the Internal Market Directive

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market from (a) business organisations, (b) trade unions, (c) other organisations and (d) individuals.

Douglas Alexander: Progress on the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market is a priority for our presidency of the EU. Independent analysis indicates that the Services Directive will increase EU GDP by 0.5 per cent. bringing high quality services and lower prices to consumers and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. The Government consulted widely on the Directive's implications when the Commission made its original proposal. A summary of representations made in response to that consultation are available on the DTI's website, at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics2/pdf2/serviceresponses.pdf

Sri Lanka

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Sri Lanka regarding the peace process; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last had discussions with the Government of Sri Lanka on the peace process when he met Foreign Minister Kadirgamar in London on 14 March. The tragic assassination of Mr. Kadirgamar on 12 August was an unconscionable act of terrorism which we and our international partners have condemned unreservedly. This and the ongoing violence in Eastern Sri Lanka have put the Ceasefire Agreement in Sri Lanka under increasing strain and the peace process is facing its most serious challenge since the Ceasefire Agreement came into force in 2002. It is incumbent on both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the Ceasefire Agreement fully.
	In statements on 19 September and 26 September respectively the Tokyo Co-Chairs, including the UK as the EU Presidency, and the EU condemned the LTTE's continuing use of violence and called on the LTTE to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change. An immediate end to political assassinations and the recruitment of child soldiers would be two such steps. It is essential that the LTTE responds. The European Union has also made clear that delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU member states until further notice. The EU is also actively considering the listing of the LTTE as an organisation engaged in terrorism (the UK has proscribed the LTTE since 2001). We also deplore the activities of paramilitary groups which fuel the cycle of violence and unrest. The Government of Sri Lanka have a responsibility under the Ceasefire Agreement to disarm or relocate these groups from the north and east.
	We hope that the peace process will be invigorated following the Presidential elections in Sri Lanka on 17 November. We continue strongly to support the efforts of Norway as peace process facilitator.

Turkey

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish Government regarding (a) the application to join the EU and (b) Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I warmly welcome the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October. In the context of our efforts as presidency to implement the December 2004 European Council decision to open negotiations, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has held extensive and detailed contacts with the Turkish Government, including on matters relating to Cyprus.

Uzbekistan

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to support the establishment of democracy in Uzbekistan.

Douglas Alexander: Our ambassador in Tashkent, David Moran, has continued to impress upon President Karimov's Government the importance of social and political reform and our conviction that democracy, political pluralism and respect for the rule of law are essential for the long-term stability of Uzbekistan. We have made repeated calls on President Karimov's Government to allow free and fair elections in Uzbekistan. In a statement on 29 December 2004, my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Bill Rammell), made clear our view that Uzbekistan's most recent election, held on 26 December, had fallen far short of international standards in these respects.
	We fund a number of projects aimed at promoting democracy, civil society, and human rights in Uzbekistan. For example, our embassy in Tashkent is supporting a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) registration and capacity-building project. This provides a lawyer to unregistered NGOs, assisting them in preparing documentation for registration, and appealing in the case of refusal. We are also sponsoring an International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) project aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the Uzbek authorities' efforts in tackling the problem of torture.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Correspondence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many letters to her Department from hon. Members in session (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old.

Meg Munn: For the year 2004, the Department has no outstanding letters to hon. Members that remain unanswered by the Minister for Women.
	For the year 2005 to date the Department has six outstanding letters to hon. Members that await response from the Minister for Women. Of these, one is two months old.
	The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Neglect

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action is taken by her Department to monitor the enforcement of legislation in respect of animal neglect cases; how many successful prosecutions have been brought in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Data are provided by Defra for Great Britain in the two tables as follows. The number of welfare inspections carried out on farms by the State Veterinary Service in each of the last five years are detailed in table (a):
	
		Table A
		
			  Number of inspections 
		
		
			 2004 5,455 
			 2003 5,060 
			 2002 4,639 
			 2001 (FMD)(39) 2,733 
			 2000 6,901 
		
	
	(39)FMD inspections significantly reduced due to the foot and mouth disease outbreak
	The number of successful prosecutions for keepers of farm animals in each of the last five years are detailed in table (b):
	
		Table B
		
			  Banned Cautioned Guilty (but not banned) 
		
		
			 2004 4 1 13 
			 2003 4 12 16 
			 2002 3 6 26 
			 2001 3 1 21 
			 2000 8 26 19 
		
	
	Note:
	Under the Agriculture Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1968 and Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulation the offence used to carry out prosecutions is Unnecessary Pain and Unnecessary Distress and not neglect.
	Data are provided in table (c) for the number of offenders 1 found guilty for offences relating to animal cruelty and neglect for England and Wales, 1999–2003.
	
		Table C
		
			  Number of offenders 
			 Statute 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 2 2 — — 1 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as amended) 828 861 754 768 783 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Section 8 1 4 3 2 — 
			 Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925 — — — — — 
			 Protection of Animals Act, 1934 — 1 — — 1 
			 Docking and Nicking of Horses Act, 1949 — 2 — — — 
			 Pet Animals Act, 1951 9 14 8 6 6 
			 Cockfighting Act, 1952 — — — — — 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954 21 15 11 13 12 
			 Animal Health Act, 1981, Sections 40–42, 46 and 49 and Orders made  under Sections 8, 9, 37, 38, 39 and 43 51 23 23 35 19 
			 Slaughterhouses Act, 1974 4 — — 1 1 
			 Abandonment of Animals Act, 1960, Section 1 12 13 19 20 15 
			 Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1988 — — — 4 2 
			 Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act, 1962 — — 1 — — 
			 Animal Boarding Establishments Act, 1963 6 4 8 3 2 
			 Riding Establishments Acts, 1964 and 1970 — 2 1 1 — 
			 Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967 7 — — — — 
			 Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968, Sections 1, 2 and 6 11 10 5 3 2 
			 Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Section 13) 10 4 5 5 4 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Section 9 — — 3 3 2 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 Section 11 3 — — — — 
			 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act1996 — 4 4 3 5 
			 Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 2000 SS 3 and 4 — — — 1 — 
			 Total 965 959 845 868 855 
		
	
	(40)Principal offence basis

Animal Waste

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the European Commission proposals to prohibit the use of tallow as a fuel to run plants which dispose of animal waste.

Ben Bradshaw: There is no such proposal.
	The burning of waste tallow as a fuel is currently subject to control as a waste recovery operation under Article 10 of the Waste Framework Directive (75/442/EEC). This requirement is supplemented by the requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) which comes fully into force on 28 December 2005. It will then be necessary for any such plant also to meet the emissions, monitoring and other operating requirements of the Waste Incineration Directive. It is for plant operators to decide whether to invest in any improvements which may be needed to meet those requirements or to switch to a fuel which is not subject to controls under the directive.
	In June I wrote to the European Commission expressing the UK view that the existing requirements of the Waste Framework Directive and the Directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (96/61/EC) are sufficient to ensure, that the burning of waste tallow as fuel is carried in ways which protect the environment and public and animal health. I called for the Waste Incineration Directive and the Animal By-Products Regulation (1774/2002) to be amended accordingly although, if agreed, there is little prospect of any amendments coming into effect by the end of this year.

Badgers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to improve the protection of badgers from (a) baiters and (b) farmers.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, it is an offence for anyone to kill or take a badger, or to attempt to do so, except under licence or in strictly controlled circumstances defined in the Act. The Act also makes it an offence to injure, ill-treat or dig for a badger. Additional protection from baiters is provided for all animals under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. And there is a range of offences under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 which support action against anyone who sets out to inflict unnecessary suffering on any wild animal.
	The level of protection provided for badgers is unique for a non-endangered animal. This reflects the concern this Government have about gratuitous acts of cruelty to badgers, which have occurred too often in the past.
	Enhanced powers for wildlife inspectors are being introduced in the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill. Supplementing existing measures under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, these will provide a further level of protection by increasing the opportunities to identify and deal with anyone intent on damaging, destroying or interfering with badgers.

BSE

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list documents requested under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which have been withheld relating to the BSE outbreak; and what obligations arise from UK participation in the Aarhus Convention in this respect.

Ben Bradshaw: Under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, information is requested as opposed to documents. Defra does not therefore hold a list of withheld documents. The Department has received several requests for information about BSE issues and has responded in accordance with the terms of the FOI Act or the Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) as appropriate. The EIRs implement the UK's obligations under the Aarhus Convention.
	Both the FOIA and the EIRs contain exemptions from the duty to disclose. In some cases, information was withheld because it fell within one of these exemptions. If individuals are unhappy with the way their requests have been dealt with under the FOIA or EIRs, they may ask the Department to conduct an internal review. If they remain dissatisfied, they may complain to the Information Commissioner. We are not aware that the Information Commissioner has received any complaints about these cases.

Carbon Emissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government has taken in response to suggested scenarios for reducing carbon emissions set out in the 22nd Report of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; and what outcomes have been achieved.

Elliot Morley: The Government accepted the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's recommendation that the UK should put itself on a path towards a reduction in carbon dioxide (C0 2 ) emissions of some 60 per cent. from current levels by about 2050. The Energy White Paper (CM 5761), published by the DTI in February 2003, outlined a number of ways in which the 60 per cent. goal could be achieved. The EWP is being taken forward by the inter-departmental Sustainable Energy Policy Network (SEPN).
	The current review of the UK Climate Change Programme (2000) is looking at how existing measures are performing and the range of measures that might be put in place in the future to help us achieve our goal of a 20 per cent. reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2010 and to put us on a path to make
	real progress by 2020 towards our longer-term goal of some 60 per cent. reduction in CO 2 emissions below 1990 levels by about 2050".

Chewing Gum

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to help reduce clear up costs for local authorities by encouraging manufacturers, importers and retailers to market less adhesive chewing gum.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government are working closely with the chewing gum industry to reduce the amount of chewing gum that is irresponsibly littered on our streets. The industry form part of the Chewing Gum Action Group that brings together Government, the Local Government Association, Chartered Institute of Waste Management and others to explore and implement ways of reducing the amount of chewing gum dropped on our streets.
	The industry is committed to developing a biodegradable gum and continue to update Government on their progress. While this work continues, the action group is pursuing a number of initiatives, including a recently piloted awareness campaign in Preston, Manchester and Maidstone, the results of which will help inform the development of a wider campaign and enable other local authorities to run similar campaigns in their own area. The gum industry are also looking at incorporating the campaign advertising into their point of sale material.

Climate Change

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the G8 plan of action on climate change contains legally binding provisions on participating Governments.

Elliot Morley: The G8 Plan of Action on Climate Change, as with all G8 agreements ever made, is not legally binding.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in the enforcement of cross-compliance standards under the Common Agricultural Policy (a) in the UK and (b) across the EU.

Jim Knight: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) Considerable progress has been made on the enforcement of cross-compliance standards in England since their introduction on 1 January 2005. Checks against pre-existing individual standards have taken place throughout the year where there are existing inspection regimes operating, and the results will be taken into account for cross-compliance purposes. Detailed guidance for inspectors has been produced in liaison with the specialist enforcement agencies and devolved Administrations, as well as a comprehensive Payments Reduction Matrix which the Rural Payments Agency will use when considering payment reductions.
	In other parts of the UK, the implementation of cross-compliance is a matter for the devolved Administrations. However, the UK has worked to achieve consistency in approach where possible, especially in regards to cross-boundary holdings.
	(b) Cross-compliance is one of the key elements of CAP reform. Across the European Union all member states are required to implement and enforce cross-compliance in accordance with the Commission regulations.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in the modulation of funds from the first to the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy in (a) the UK and (b) the EU.

Jim Knight: From 2005, modulation will be applied on a compulsory basis to all EU direct payments made in the EU 15. A 3 per cent. rate of compulsory EU modulation will transfer funding from CAP Pillar One subsidies to rural development Pillar Two payments in 2005. The rate will rise to 4 per cent. in 2006, and 5 per cent. from 2007 onwards. The regime will apply in the 10 new member states by 2013 at the latest when their direct payments are due to reach EU 15 levels.
	In addition, the UK has secured agreement for an additional rate of national modulation to be levied over and above the EU rate. The additional national modulation rate in England is necessary in order to finance an expansion of our agri-environment schemes, and in particular to implement entry level stewardship. The Secretary of State announced last year that this national rate of modulation will be 2 per cent. in 2005 and 6 per cent. in 2006, bringing the overall rate in England to 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Modulation will be 100 per cent. match funded by the Exchequer until at least 2006, which doubles the amount of money available for agri-environment measures.
	We have been pressing the Commission for a modulation mechanism that will allow us to levy additional national modulation in the next rural development programming period to enable us to properly fund agri-environment agreements from 2007. A declaration was given at the Agriculture Council of 20 June 2005 that discussions on voluntary modulation will continue as part of the financial perspective negotiations.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in the reduction of intervention rates under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Jim Knight: Intervention prices have been reduced in CAP reform agreements over the last decade or so. Intervention prices for most commodities have been substantially reduced.
	The cereals intervention price was reduced by around 35 per cent. over the period 1993–94 to 1995–96 and by a further 15 per cent. in the period 2000–01 to 2001–02. It now stands at €101.31. From the start of the 2004–05 marketing year, rye was excluded from the list of eligible crops for cereals intervention, reducing the potential volume of stocks and therefore expenditure.
	The rice intervention price was reduced by 15 per cent. over the period 1997–98 and 1999–2000. Under the 2003 reforms it was further reduced by almost 50 per cent. from the start of the 2004–05 marketing year. It now stands at €150/t and intervention purchasing is limited to 75,000 tonnes of rice per annum.
	The beef intervention price was reduced by 20per cent. in 1999. It now stands at €1,560/t.
	The 2003 CAP reform agreement included phased reductions in intervention prices in the milk sector over a four year period as set out in the table:
	
		
			  1 July 2000 to 30 June 2004 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 From 1 July 2007 
		
		
			 Butter Price €/100 kg 328.20 305.23 282.44 259.52 246.39 
			 Percentage cut — 7 7 7 4 
			   
			 Skimmed milk powder Price €/100 kg 205.52 195.24 184.97 174.69 — 
			 Percentage cut — 5 5 5 — 
		
	
	The sugar intervention price has been at €631.90/t for white sugar and €523.70/t for raw sugar since the 1993–94 marketing year. As part of the current negotiations to reform the sugar regime, the European Commission have proposed the abolition of the intervention mechanism and price for sugar.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on progress in the decoupling of subsidy and production under the Common Agricultural Policy; if she will list the sectors to which decoupling will apply; and if she will list those EU member states who have opted out of decoupling.

Jim Knight: Under the CAP reform agreement reached in June 2003, the main direct payments in the arable, beef and sheep sectors are replaced by the new decoupled Single Payment Scheme (SPS). Ten member states introduced the SPS at the earliest possible date, 2005, and five in 2006. (Separate arrangements apply to the 10 new member states.) Additionally, the direct payment in the dairy sector is being integrated into the SPS between 2005 and 2007. Member states also have the option to re-couple a limited percentage of certain payments when introducing the SPS. For those member states introducing the reforms in 2005, all bar Ireland and Luxembourg have made some use of these options, including the UK in respect of a national envelope for the beef sector in Scotland.
	In the second wave of reform agreed in May 2004, a significant part of the production linked payments in the tobacco, hops, olive oil and cotton sectors are also to be decoupled from 2006. In addition, the Commission has recently proposed reform of the sugar sector which would see compensation for changes to the market regime being integrated into the SPS.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has undertaken of different policy options for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Jim Knight: We have secured notable successes in reforming the CAP in recent years, which our assessments show will make it less trade-distorting, and environmentally damaging and help boost the competitiveness of farming.
	We want to build on that model, including through the reform of the sugar regime, for which my Department has published a detailed assessment of the European Commission's proposals. We will also assess the implications of reform of the fruit and vegetable, flax and hemp and wine regimes when proposals for those sectors come forward next year, and we will pursue the policy options mandated by the World Trade Organisation as part of the Doha Development Agenda.
	In the context of the EU's Future Financing negotiations, we have suggested a review of the whole EU budget—including, but not limited to, agriculture—midway through the next EU financial perspective (2007–13). We are currently consulting other member states on their views and will use the findings to inform our thinking on options for any subsequent changes to the CAP budget.

Common Agricultural Policy

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the establishment of a cap on the level of support given to any single recipient of subsidy under the Common Agricultural Policy.

Jim Knight: The Government have had concerns about setting a ceiling on individual farm subsidy payments because it would add further distortions to the system.
	Payment limits would have a disproportionate impact on many of the larger, more efficient farms which are better able to compete in an increasingly globalised and liberalised market, and thus may perpetuate the industry's dependence on subsidy and discriminate against those countries with the best farm structure to compete globally.
	A ceiling could also discourage the industry from restructuring and divert farmers into adopting a business structure which maximised subsidy by avoiding the impacts of the ceiling, rather than adopting the most efficient, market-based business model to provide long-term economic viability.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 5 July about the trawler SuccessIII.

Ben Bradshaw: I responded to the hon. Member on 2 August.

Countryside Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost wasof the Countryside Agency's (a) Land Access and Recreation Project, (b) Commission for Rural Communities Project and (c) Making a Difference Project in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: The Countryside Agency did not have a landscape, access and recreation project in 2004–05. There was activity in this area consisting of a limited restructuring of the former 'B' directorate into a new landscape, access and recreation division (LAR). Financial information on this aspect of the Agency's work could only be made available at disproportionate cost.
	Steps were taken to launch a new Commission for Rural Communities division as a distinct body within the Countryside Agency's legal framework on 9 March 2005, pending the passage of legislation to establish the Commission as a statutory body in its own right. The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill contained an estimate of around £458,000 for the cost incurred in 2004–05 for the establishment and launch of the Commission. We will be updating the Assessment when the Bill begins its passage through the House of Lords.
	Some £166,000 was spent on the Making a Difference project which related to sharing learning from the Countryside Agency's socio-economic work, including through events and publications, from its six years of operation.

Countryside Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the projected costs are of implementing the Countryside Agency's 2004 Diversity Review recommendations.

Jim Knight: I expect to receive a draft action plan from the Countryside Agency at the end of December, drawing on the findings of the diversity review. Consultation will follow and we will look at the costs of implementation in the light of the options which we decide to pursue.

Countryside Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of the Countryside Agency's 2004 Diversity Review.

Jim Knight: The programme budget for the Diversity Review is £1.5 million over the three years 2004–07.

Countryside Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of the Countryside Agency's (a) staff, (b) publications, (c) research, (d) incidentals and (e) total budget in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: The Countryside Agency's Annual Report and Accounts for 2004–05 were signed off by the Comptroller and Auditor General on 14 July 2005. They were laid before Parliament on 19 July 2005 and disclose the following costs incurred during 2004–05:
	(a) Staff costs—£22.8 million, including a one-off provision of £3.2 million of redundancy costs arising from the devolution of socio-economic and social and community funding to regional development agencies and government offices in the regions respectively.
	(b) The cost of publications was £1.3 million.
	(c) The amount defined by the Agency as 'investigations, inquiries, research and experiments' is £13.1 million. Research as such would have comprised a small proportion of this sum.
	(d) 'Incidentals' are not separately defined, and would have formed a small proportion of 'other operating costs' (£20.6 million).
	(e) Total budget for the year (excluding the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund at £2.3 million which is funded separately) was £92.5 million.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the websites that come under her Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Jim Knight: Defra directly operates a number of websites, including the main Defra website (www.defra.gov.uk) and the Government's sustainable development website (www.sustainable-development.gov.uk).
	Direct operating costs—the staff costs for the central team with lead responsibility for updating and maintaining websites—are estimated to be around £352,000 for the current financial year. Additional costs arise from the activities of a large number of staff in business units across the Department, contributing to the content of websites as part of their communications activities, but an overall cost for this could not be readily estimated. Website hosting services—as well as a range of IT applications—are provided as part of Defra's overall IT service provision and the costs could not be readily disaggregated.
	A number of other websites are operated by or on behalf of the Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies, for which costs are either covered by the budgets for specific programmes (and not separately identified), or included within the above figures. Detailed information is not held centrally for such websites, and could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The average number of visitors per month during the year 2004–05 was as follows: www.defra.gov.uk—204,000; www.sustainable-development.gov.uk—20,000.

Emissions

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the likely impact on carbon dioxide emissions in the next decades of the expansion of energy generating capacity in (a) China, (b) India, (c) Brazil, (d) Mexcio and (e) South Africa.

Elliot Morley: As the 2004 International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook" indicates, economic growth is the most important driver of energy demand. As Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa continue to experience rapid economic growth, the energy needs of these countries will also continue to grow rapidly.
	Meeting energy security needs and ensuring access to energy is a major priority for all countries. Economic expansion with the use of existing technologies will have significant implications on carbon dioxide emissions in the forthcoming decades.
	The World Energy Outlook" points out that is possible to promote economic expansion and meet the challenges of energy security and climate change, through the use of alternative, cleaner technologies. The Government firmly believes that technological co-operation with emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa is vital in developing and deploying low carbon technology globally.
	At the Gleneagles summit, the UK and our G8 partners demonstrated this commitment to technological co-operation, agreeing a package of measures to work with emerging economies to accelerate progress in clean coal technology, including joint work on a radical solution—stripping out and burying greenhouse gases—which could save one-third of all energy related emissions by 2050.

Energy Efficiency

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what targets she has set on improving energy efficiency; and how she intends to achieve these targets.

Elliot Morley: The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate is the main vehicle for systematically assessing, managing, reporting and improving Government performance of its land and buildings. Targets for energy were published in February 2004 and cover absolute carbon reduction, energy efficiency, renewable energy, good quality Combined Heat and Power (CHP), a long term strategy for renewables and the inclusion of energy clauses in estate management contracts.
	Information on the specific targets and Defra's response can be found on its website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/sdstrategy/operations/parte.htm

Environment Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people are employed in the Environment Agency's customer service team; and what the (a) employment and (b) other costs have been to date.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency's National Customer Contact Centre currently employs 70 people. Staff costs for 2004–05 were £1.04 million, with total operational costs of £1.27 million. This year's total budget is £1.6 million, of which £1.4 million will be spent on staff.
	The agency's National Customer Contact Centre was set up in 2002. Information system development costs, including implementation, support and maintenance for 2002–05 were £2.816 million. Wider project costs—including accommodation set up, recruitment and other project costs for 2002–05 were £889,000.
	As well as a small customer service team in its Head Office (employing 2.5 full time equivalents), staff in the devolved teams working across England and Wales cover a variety of external engagement tasks, including customer and stakeholder relations. For much of the work of the Environment Agency there is no straightforward divide between customer services and improving the way the agency functions. Beyond this, the Environment Agency has signed up to the Customer Charter and regards all staff as having a customer service role.

Environment Agency

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the media budget of (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Environment Agency retail is in 2005–06; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency's 2005–06 budget for media relations activity is £1,470,000. This is comprised almost entirely of staff costs, with a small spend on supporting activities including training, monitoring and evaluation to enhance the effectiveness of its media communication activities for the benefit of the public.
	The Environment Agency places significant importance on disseminating information and advice and accounting publicly for its activities to the widest possible audience in a cost-effective way. It therefore employs dedicated press officers in its head office, and in each of its eight regions, to make the public aware of the agency and its responsibilities, to reinforce its regulatory role and generally to ensure strong coverage of environmental issues. It strives to reach national, regional and local audiences by securing editorial coverage in all types of media.
	The media is also a vital communication channel during civil emergencies, including flooding and environmental incidents. The Environment Agency's press officers provide a 24 hour service, 365 days of the year, to ensure that important information can always be targeted to appropriate news and other media outlets. In the event of flooding, press officers are in the front line in disseminating warnings, information and advice to the public via the media.
	The agency does not hold a budget for retail.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: Defra is fully committed to the diversity and equality agenda and has policies 'embedded' throughout its HR policies as well as processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds.
	Defra operates in a global market, and the UK is a multi-cultural society. Defra needs representatives from different ethnic backgrounds and different minority groups to compete in business terms. It needs staff who can understand its customers and their cultures, who can communicate with them effectively, reflecting the communities in which Defra works. These include the farming, fishing, food and water industries, together with other industries challenged to meet consumers' requirements, as well as the public itself living within either rural or urban areas.
	Defra's diversity and equality policies are promoted through a number of initiatives. These include funding of specific diversity and equality-related training courses; e-learning diversity training packages; in-house staff networks, which provide support for staff in minority groups; and mentoring schemes for minority groups.
	The current staffing figure for the Department's Diversity and Equality Unit is standing at 10, of which three are working on a part-time basis as part of Defra's flexible working opportunities.
	The latest available figures for the cost of these initiatives since Defra was created are indicated as follows:
	
		
			  Activity Type Cost 
		
		
			 2001–02 Training Diversity and Equality Training (Legislative Compliance and Diversity Management) 35,000 
			  Staff networks 4 In-house 1,300 
			 Total — — 36,300 
			 
			 2002–03 Training Diversity Toolkit(41) 4,784 
			   Diversity and Equality Training (Legislative Compliance and Diversity Management) (42)100,200 
			  (2002 2004)(43) Pathways and Disability 7,000 
			   Bursary (mentoring schemes) 5,000 
			  Staff networks 4 In-house 374 
			  Work Placements Fast Stream-Ethnic Minority Scheme 6,360 
			   Disabled Candidate Scheme 6,272 
			 Total — — 129,990 
			 
			 2003–04 Training Diversity and Equality Training (Legislative Compliance and Diversity Management) 52,800 
			   PC ROM e-learning multi-media package(44) 55,000 
			  Staff networks 5 In-house 3,669 
			  Work Placements Fast Stream—Ethnic Minority Scheme 6,840 
			 Total — — 118,309 
			 
			 2004–05 Training Diversity and Equality Training (Legislative Compliance and Diversity Management) 42,400 
			   PC ROM(45) 44,650 
			  Staff networks 5 In-house 7,140 
			 Total — — 94,190 
			 
			 2005 to date Training RRA Legislative Compliance 9,200 
			  Staff networks 6 In-house 368 
			 Total — — 9,568 
			 Grand total — — 388,357 
		
	
	(41)Development and production of Interactive computer training package dealing with diversity and equality issues.
	(42)The cost of diversity and Equality training here was high, due to the creation of Defra as a new Department.
	(43)The cost of these schemes was spread over two years.
	(44)This was an e-learning multi-media package, 'Looking Beyond The Difference' designed for use by individuals via Defra's intranet, and for corporate training—produced in conjunction with external consultants. Being in the lead with this package, Defra has demonstrated this to other Government Departments as sharing best practise, and DWP have asked for permission to re-brand.
	(45)Looking Beyond The Difference"—further redevelopment of package.

Flood Defences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects authorisation to be given for a start to be made on a flood defence scheme for the Cliffe Cell in Lewes.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency consider that the Cliffe Cell in Lewes is unlikely to qualify for funding for at least the next three years as the assessed priority score for the scheme is below the currently indicated thresholds.

Farming

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many bankruptcies there have been among farmers in England in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The data requested on bankruptcies are set out in the table and are available only for England and Wales combined.
	
		Number of bankruptcies in the agricultural and horticultural sectors: England and Wales 1995–2004
		
			  Bankruptcies of self-employed individuals Company insolvencies(46) Total 
		
		
			 1995 218 99 317 
			 1996 168 89 257 
			 1997 155 51 206 
			 1998 157 65 222 
			 1999 183 75 258 
			 2000 173 67 240 
			 2001 183 90 273 
			 2002 132 76 208 
			 2003 151 52 203 
			 2004 204 35 239 
		
	
	(46)Including partnerships.
	Source:
	Department of Trade and Industry

Fishing Fleet

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the (a) size of the fishing fleet, (b) number of people directly involved in the (i) catching sector and (ii)processing sector and (c) the value and tonnage of landings for each nation of the UK.

Ben Bradshaw: There were 7,030 sea fishing vessels registered in the UK fleet on 1 January 2005. In 2004, there were 11,559 full and part-time fishermen employed in the UK catching sector and 18,180 full time equivalent employees working in the sea fish processing industry. Landings into the UK by the UK fishing fleet totalled 461.5 thousand tonnes in 2004, with a value of £405.6 million. Available information for each nation of the UK is given in the following table.
	
		Information for each nation of the UK for the year 2004 or as at the end of 2004
		
			  England Wales N. Ireland Scotland Total UK 
		
		
			 Number of UK sea fishing vessels at the end of year(47) 3,430 515 332 2,364 6,641 
			 Number of full and part-time fishermen employed in the catching sector 4,504 1,161 619 5,275 11,559 
			 Number of full time equivalents employed in the fish processing sector(48) 10,388 (48)— 724 7,068 18,180 
			   
			 Landings by UK vessels of sea fish into each nation of the UK:  
			 Quantity ('000 tonnes) 99.2 11.3 13.8 337.2 461.5 
			 Value (£ million) 120.4 10.4 14.3 260.5 405.6 
		
	
	(47)There are a further 389 vessels registered in the Isle of Man and Channel Islands.
	(48)Separate estimates are not available for employment in the fish processing sector for Wales—these figures are included in the estimate given for England.

Fly-tipping (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) incidents of fly-tipping were reported and (b) prosecutions were made as a result in (i) the county of Bedfordshire and (ii) the parliamentary constituency of mid-Bedfordshire in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: No national data have previously been collected on incidents of illegal waste disposal or fly-tipping.
	DEFRA has worked with the Environment Agency and the Local Government Association to develop Flycapture, a national fly-tipping database, which has been active since April 2004.
	There were 6,283 fly-tipping incidents reported by the waste collection authorities in the county of Bedfordshire from April 2004 to March 2005.
	Flycapture indicates that authorities are taking a wide range of enforcement action. Previously the 'actions taken' page of the database was not mandatory and therefore the picture is patchy. The Bedfordshire waste collection authorities reported 1,927 actions from April 2004 to March 2005, seven of which were prosecutions.
	Mid-Bedfordshire district council reported 959 incidents from April 2004 to March 2005 and seven actions, none of which were prosecutions.

Foxes

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the fox population in London for each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: We are not aware that an estimate has been made of the fox population in London for each year since 1997. A report issued by Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in 1995 1 estimated the British urban fox population to be 33,000, but the total number of urban foxes has undoubtedly changed since then.
	1 Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S. and Yalden, D. (1995) A review of British mammals: population estimates and conservation statusof British mammals other than cetaceans (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough).

Fuel Poverty

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on tackling fuel poverty in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: Fuel poverty is a devolved matter, and expenditure on fuel poverty in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government. The major programme to tackle fuel poverty in the private sector in England is Warm Front. Since its launch in June 2000, annual expenditure on Warm Front in England is:
	
		£ million
		
			 Scheme year Approximate total spend 
		
		
			 2000–01 72 
			 2001–02 197 
			 2002–03 163 
			 2003–04 164 
			 2004–05 166 
		
	
	The predecessor to the Warm Front scheme was the Home Energy Efficiency scheme. From June 1997 until May 2000, annual expenditure on the scheme was approximately £60 million.

Gangmasters

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the responsibilities of Operation Gangmaster will be transferred to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority established under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

Jim Knight: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is responsible for Operation Gangmaster. I can confirm that he has no plans to transfer the responsibility for Operation Gangmaster to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. However, the Authority will be holding discussions with DWP to establish how intelligence gathered through Operation Gangmaster can be used for licensing and associated enforcement purposes.

Green Ministers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what work her Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months.

Jim Knight: Ben Bradshaw was appointed as Departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005.
	In July, the Minister attended a breakfast seminar for Sustainable Development Ministers to discuss the sustainable development strategy and Ministers' role in delivering it.

Green Ministers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what meetings her Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in that capacity.

Jim Knight: Lord Whitty was Defra's Green Minister until April 2005 and in that capacity was a member of the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G).
	Ben Bradshaw was appointed as departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005 and is a member of the new Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)).
	Although the Government publish the title, membership and terms of reference of cabinet committees, it has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.

Green Ministers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the meetings at which her Department has been represented about the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Elliot Morley: Following the general election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers.
	Although the Government publish the title, membership and terms of reference of cabinet committees, it has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has also chaired a Sustainable Development Task Force whose agendas, minutes and papers can be found on the Government's sustainable development website.
	In addition, officials in the Department have had many meetings with others across Government both to develop and implement the Governments new sustainable development strategy 'Securing the Future'.

Hazardous Waste

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of the additional cost to small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK of complying with the European hazardous waste regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has published a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) on the implementation of the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (SI No. 894/2005). Copies of the RIA are available in the House Library and on the internet at the following address. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/em2005/uksiem_20050894—en.pdf.

Hazardous Waste

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether small businesses in the UK are required to maintain a register of their disposal of electrical waste to comply with the hazardous waste regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: The Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 (SI 894/2005) require all those producing hazardous waste to keep a register of consignment notes and any return from the consignee confirming receipt of the waste and the method of disposal or recovery. Some electrical waste will be non-hazardous and would not be subject to the requirements of the regulations.

Hazardous Waste

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance the Government have issued to waste producers on the implementation of the Hazardous Waste Regulations; and what guidance the Environment Agency is required to supply to waste producers.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has published a leaflet on the requirements of the Hazardous Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2005 which is targeted at small business producers of hazardous waste, but which is also useful for waste managers. Defra has also published specific policy guidance on the premises notification and the mixing requirements of the regulations. The leaflet and guidance have been distributed to stakeholders and they are also available on the web (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/special/index.htm). Defra is preparing further specific guidance on provisions in the regulations relating to offences, emergencies and transitional provisions for waste management licensing and this will be available shortly.
	It is normal practice for the Environment Agency to issue guidance on the operational aspects of relevant regulations, and they have issued a comprehensive raft of guidance relating to the Hazardous Waste Regulations covering the definition of hazardous waste, mixing hazardous waste, the process of premises notification, and the completion of consignment notes and formulation of consignment codes. The agency has also published frequently asked questions (FAQs) on hazardous waste issues and guidance on the management of specific waste streams including fluorescent tubes and cathode ray tubes. All of this is available on the agency's website at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk and the FAQs are also available on the Defra website listed above.

Hazardous Waste

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultation the Government conducted with waste producers in assessing the environmental benefits of the procedures included in the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: The procedures included in the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 were implemented to transpose the requirements of the European Commission's Directive on Hazardous Waste (91/689/EEC). The directive sets out requirements for the controlled management of hazardous waste with a view to protecting human health and the environment. Defra issued a consultation on the new regulations in July 2004. The draft regulatory impact assessment forming part of this consultation included an assessment of the environmental benefits.

Household Waste

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the total UK household waste in each year between 1997 and 2005; what percentage was (a) discarded packaging material waste and (b) other waste; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Results from the DEFRA Municipal Waste Management Survey, are listed as follows:
	
		Household waste arisings, England
		
			  Tonnes (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1996–97 22,549 
			 1997–98 23,333 
			 1998–99 23,531 
			 1999–2000 24,760 
			 2000–01 25,079 
			 2001–02 25,524 
			 2002–03 25,832 
			 2003–04 25,443 
		
	
	Information on the amount of packaging waste discarded by households each year is not available. However, analysis in from the PackFlow report recently published by Valpak estimated packaging waste in the household waste stream to be 4.54 million tonnes in England, equivalent in 2003–04 to about 18 per cent. of household waste arisings. The remaining 'other' household waste will amount to 82 per cent.
	Continued progress with various recycling schemes has resulted a steady increase in household recycling rates, from 7.5 per cent. in 1996–97 to 17.7 per cent. in 2003–04. An increase in recycling of specific materials such as glass, paper and card, cans and plastics, from household sources, has been recorded over this period. Household packaging waste, although not specifically identified, would have been part of this increase.

Litter

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department provides to local councils on the implementation of the Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 about litter.

Ben Bradshaw: Guidance has already been provided to local authorities on the measures in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 which came into force in June. Further guidance will be issued shortly on measures that are planned to come into force in October. We plan to commence most of the measures in the Act in April next year, and in October will be publishing a consultation document seeking the views of local authorities and others on draft regulations and guidance, with a view to finalising them in the new year.
	We will also be providing advice and support to local councils and other land managers through a series of events and seminars on the Act .

Litter

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the annual tonnage of litter collected in England in 2004–05.

Ben Bradshaw: Government does not collect statistics on the annual tonnage of litter collected in England. However, the impact of litter on the local environment is monitored through the Annual Local Environmental Quality Survey of England (LEQSE), conducted by ENCAMS (Environmental Campaigns) on behalf of Defra. Since the first survey in 2001–02 the proportion of unsatisfactory sites for litter and detritus has fallen from 28 per cent. to 22 per cent. Local authorities are also now required to provide information on litter levels through the introduction of the street cleansing best value performance indicator, BV199, which is based on the LEQSE methodology.

Litter

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of removal of litter by local authorities in England in 2004–05.

Ben Bradshaw: Data are collected by Government on the total expenditure of local authorities in England on street cleansing not chargeable to highways. The latest figure available is £538 million for 2003–04.

Olympic Games

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the former nuclear reactor site at the proposed 2012 Olympic Park last received an environmental assessment; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I understand from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that there was a nuclear reactor site at Queen Mary College, East London. Following the reactor's being taken out of use, an independent radiological survey was carried out under the auspices of HSE's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in August 1983. As a result of this survey and an earlier one carried out by the college, waste was removed from the site and decontamination carried out. The site was then delicensed by HSE. In doing so, HSE were required, under the terms of the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, to be satisfied that there was no longer any residual danger from ionising radiation at the site. Queen Mary College's period of responsibility under the 1965 Act ended on 25 November 1983.
	In 2003, environmental consultants for the London Development Agency undertook a major environmental assessment of the whole of the proposed Olympic Park site as part of the planning process. They assessed that the reactor's former presence do not and will not pose a risk to the Olympic Development. In particular this assessment was made as the facility is no longer in existence and has been safely decommissioned.

Petrol Vapour

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of vapour recovery systems in petrol stations.

Ben Bradshaw: There are two types of petrol vapour recovery systems which can be fitted at petrol stations. Petrol Vapour Recovery stage I controls (PVR I) reduce emissions of petrol vapour during the delivery of petrol from road tankers to petrol stations; and stage II controls (PVR II) which reduce emissions of petrol vapour during the refuelling of vehicles.
	PVR I is required at all UK petrol stations with sales above 500 cubic metres of petrol a year. The PVR I controls should prevent all petrol vapour from this source escaping to the atmosphere. Statutory guidance reflects the mandatory requirements relating to the technical standards systems must meet when installed. The guidance also specifies the maintenance regime which must be carried out to ensure PVR I systems continue to operate effectively. Local authorities carry out periodic inspections of petrol stations to ensure compliance with the requirements.
	Research has shown that PVR II systems under laboratory conditions can reduce emissions of petrol vapour to air by around 85 per cent. We are considering whether to require some petrol stations to install PVR II equipment.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 242–43W, on the private finance initiative, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government balance sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Jim Knight: Further to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 242–43W, additional information is as follows:
	(a) The PFI project undertaken by the core Department is to provide office facilities at Brooklands Avenue in Cambridge. No assets and liabilities for this project are recognised in the core Department's balance sheet. The accounting treatment is in line with the UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, the external auditor to the core Department. The notes to the accounts in the core Department's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on the project.
	(b) For the Broadland Norfolk Flood Defence and Pevensey Bay Sea Defences PFI schemes—shown against Environment Agency—no assets and liabilities for these projects are recognised in the Environment Agency balance sheet. The accounting treatment accords with UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, external auditor to the Environment Agency. The notes to the accounts in the Environment Agency's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on each scheme.
	(c) No assets or liabilities in respect of the PFI project—SPIRIT IT System—shown against the Countryside Agency are recognised in the Agency's balance sheet. The accounting treatment accords with UK GAAP and IFRS requirements and is confirmed by the National Audit Office, external auditor to the Environment Agency. The notes to the accounts in theCountryside Agency's financial statements reflect the costs incurred and future commitments on the project.
	(d) The four PPP schemes listed against British Waterways are classified by the Office for National Statistics as falling within the definition of a private sector company and as such fall outside British Waterways' balance sheet and hence Government's. Under these accounting arrangements, there are no liabilities and no recourse to Government Only the value of British Waterways' investment in each venture is accounted for in its balance sheet. The amounts currently invested are:
	Waterside Pub Partnership: £500,000
	Isis regeneration partnership: £10,750,000
	Wood Wharf Partnership: £86,000
	Watergrid: £0 (dormant)
	The accounting treatment is in accordance with UK GAAP and is reviewed annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers, British Waterways' auditors.

Recycling

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding (a) councils in England, (b) Birmingham and (c) Solihull have received to support recycling in each year since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: The main source of funding for local authorities' waste management services is the Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) block of annual Government grant. It is for the local authorities to decide what proportion of the block is invested in waste management services, including recycling.
	Funding is also being provided from a variety of other sources to help authorities improve recycling rates. The Waste Minimisation and Recycling (Challenge) Fund has made available funding totalling £275 million over the four years from 2002–03 to 2005–06 for specific projects to expand recycling operations.
	Through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), credits worth £355 million have been made available over the same period as an extra source of funding, with a further £535 million available in 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	In January 2004 my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Climate Change and the Environment, Elliot Morley, announced that a further £20 million would be given to local authorities with responsibility for waste in England to reduce spending pressures in 2004–05.
	In December 2004 the Government announced a targeted local authority Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant totalling £260 million over the three years between 2005–06 and 2007–08. A full list of allocations to each authority in England in 2005–06 is available on the DEFRA website. Authorities will receive further allocations in 2006–07 and 2007–08.
	The amounts received by Birmingham city council and Solihull metropolitan borough council to support recycling are shown in the following table:
	
		£
		
			  2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Birmingham city council 
			 National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 347,384 — — — 
			 Grant to relieve spending pressures in the waste area — — 281,600 — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 807,196 
			  
			 Solihull metropolitan borough council 
			 National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 205,000 — — — 
			 Grant to relieve spending pressures in the waste area — — 55,120 — 
			 Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant — — — 158,033

Recycling

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) schools and (b) LEAs run recycling programmes for (i) cans, (ii) glass and (iii) paper.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally.

Oceans

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of increased acidity on ocean chemistry and biology.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 1964W.

Sewage

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action has been taken to stop untreated sewage overflowing into the Thames since August 2004.

Elliot Morley: Since August 2004 various actions have been put in hand, as follows, in relation to the sewage collection system and treatment works, to reduce the frequency or impact of the overflows that operate during some wet weather conditions, to prevent flooding and the overloading of sewage treatment plants:
	by April 2005 most of the overflows from the Abbey Mills pumping station, the main source of untreated sewage, received screening prior to discharge;
	since April 2005 Thames Water have been working up proposals for significant treatment and capacity improvements at Beckton, Crossness and Mogden sewage treatment works.
	In addition, the Thames Tideway Strategic Study, which was set up to identify problems caused by intermittent storm sewage discharges and to propose potential solutions having regard to costs and benefits, has continued its work. Ministers and the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) await a report on further investigations by the study group concerning aspects of the long-term proposal for a 35km tunnel under the Thames, and potential smaller-scale measures that could deliver earlier improvements.
	Ofwat are also expecting a report in early October from an additional study they commissioned into possible partial solutions.
	These reports will be considered with a view to determining what further measures are appropriate to deal with overflows from the collecting system.

Sewage

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the location of sewage overflow pipes that flow into the Thames.

Elliot Morley: The following list sets out the names of the 57 combined sewer overflows (from west to east) that discharge to the tidal Thames. These only discharge in storm conditions. I have arranged for a map to be deposited in the House Libraries that identifies their locations.
	Acton
	Stamford Brook
	West Putney
	Brook Green
	North West Relief
	Hammersmith Pumping Station
	Putney Bridge
	Frogmore
	Jews Row
	Falcon Brook Relief
	Falcon Brook Pumping Station
	Lots Road Pumping Station
	Church Street
	Queen Street
	Smith Street
	Ranelagh
	Western Pumping Station
	South West Relief
	Heathwall Pumping Station
	Kings Scholar Pond
	Clapham
	Brixton
	Grosvenor
	Horseferry
	Wood Street
	Regent Street
	Northumberland Street
	Savoy Street
	Norfolk Street
	Essex Street
	Fleet
	Goswell Street
	Pauls Pier
	London Bridge
	Shad Thames Pumping Station
	Battle Bridge
	Beer Lane
	Iron Gate
	Nightingale
	Union Wharf
	Wapping Dock
	Cole Stairs
	Bell Wharf
	North East Relief
	Ratcliffe
	Earl Pumping Station
	Holloway
	Blackwall Sewer
	Deptford
	Wick Lane
	Greenwich Pumping Station
	Isle of Dogs Pumping Station
	Abbey Mills
	Canning Town Pumping Station
	Charlton
	Henley Road
	Store Road

Sewage

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume of sewage discharges from each sewage treatment worksin north west London was in each of the last 10years.

Elliot Morley: There are no sewage treatment works in north west London.
	The works that treat sewage from north west London are Mogden—in west London, and Beckton—in east London. However, they do not serve north west London exclusively, and it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the volume of their discharges which derive from north west London.

Scrapie

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will ask the European Commission to bring forward proposals to scrap the existing EU law regarding surveillance policy for goats; how many (a) goats and (b) sheep have been diagnosed with scrapie in each of the last three years; and how many have been destroyed.

Ben Bradshaw: The European Commission's TSE Roadmap of 15 July confirms that the current extended monitoring of goats will be reviewed in the second half of 2005 after more results are available. Monitoring was increased to provide a better estimate of BSE in goats in order to assess whether the positive BSE case slaughtered in France in 2002 was an isolated case. A possible UK case of BSE in a goat that died in 1990 is also under investigation.
	The number of goats and sheep that have been diagnosed with scrapie in each of the last three years in Great Britain is set out as follows.
	
		Passive surveillance (i.e. field reports based on clinical signs)
		
			 Year reported Goats Sheep 
		
		
			 2002 1 403 
			 2003 0 377 
			 2004 0 309 
			 2005(49) 0 66 
		
	
	
		Active surveillance (i.e. abattoir/fallen stock surveys)
		
			 Year reported Goats Sheep 
		
		
			 2002 0 24 
			 2003 1 62 
			 2004 0 24 
			 2005(49) 0 15 
		
	
	(49)January to June.
	Source:
	Scrapie Notifications Database (SND)
	As at end July 2005, three goats and 66,700 sheep have been destroyed under the Compulsory Scrapie Flocks Scheme in herds/flocks with confirmed cases of scrapie.

Shopping Bags

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of free plastic shopping bags given away in England between 1997 and 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's current estimate for the number of plastic bags given away in England between these dates is 66.8 billion bags. This estimate is based around a figure of 10 billion per annum for UK carrier bag usage, contained within a consultant's report for WRAP in 2005. This figure was cited by in the Scottish Executive's Extended Impact Assessment for the plastic bag levy bill. The figure for England per annum is generated by calculating the proportion of the UK population that live in England (currently 83.5 per cent.) and adjusting the UK figure accordingly. In calculating this figure over several years it has to be assumed that the figures have been constant since 1997 as we do not hold any data relating to the fluctuations in usage over this period.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what parts of her Department's estate will not be covered by the commitments set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Jim Knight: Framework commitments are directly applicable to the core Department and its seven Executive Agencies—Central Science Laboratory, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pesticides Safety Directorate, Rural Payments Agency, State Veterinary Service, Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
	Our aim is for as much as possible of the estate to be covered by the Framework commitments. This means that different approaches may be appropriate for each part of the Framework.
	Environmental Management Systems are in place or are being introduced at Defra sites except where there are plans for disposal, where we are a minor occupier sharing with another Department, or where there are very few staff.
	Waste targets have until recently applied only to sites where Defra is the major or sole occupier and there are more than 50 staff. This has now been extended to cover sites with more than 25 staff.
	The entire Defra estate is covered by Framework commitments on travel, energy, water, biodiversity, procurement, estate management and social impacts.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to provide the delivery of sustainable development within government; and what progress has been made on her Department's Sustainable Development Strategy.

Elliot Morley: Defra has a public service agreement target to promote sustainable development across Government. The launch of the UK Government's sustainable development strategy in March 2005 has helped to define clearly the shared priorities for action that need to be developed over the conning years.
	From 2006, a strengthened Sustainable Development Commission will act as advocate, adviser and watchdog for sustainable development.
	The strategy includes a specific commitment for Government bodies to produce sustainable development action plans. These will define the specific contributions Departments will make towards delivery of the strategy. A senior level officials sustainable development programme board has been created to oversee delivery of the strategy and progress on the priority areas.
	Defra's overarching aim is sustainable development and the Department's five-year strategy published in December 2004 tackles 'Putting sustainable development into practice'. Progress against the Department's five-year plan is reported in the Department's annual report.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what she has identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of her Department's estate; and what steps have been taken to review arrangements for public reporting of such impacts.

Jim Knight: The most significant negative impacts have been identified as:
	Environmental—Use of land and associated landfill impacts (such as leachate and methane gas production) from waste disposal; use of non-renewable resources; contributions to global warming due to utility use and project management practices; contributions to ground level ozone and greenhouse effects from the use of refrigerants and materials during maintenance of buildings; land take for the development of new properties; atmospheric emissions contributing to global warming associated with business travel, fleet cars and staff commuting.
	Social—Impact of landfill on local community from leachate and methane gas production, noise and visual impacts; local and global health impacts associated with air emissions, global warming and volatile organic compounds (VOCs); health, safety and welfare impacts of work practices and procedures.
	The most significant positive impacts have been identified as:
	Environmental—Reduced air emissions from effective green travel and transport planning; protection of biodiversity through land and ground management; reduced need for landfill and associate emissions due to increased recycling and recovery of materials; reduced use of non-renewable resources through appropriate procurement specification and management.
	Social—Reduced health, noise and visual impacts from waste disposal due to increased recycling and recovery of materials; improved staff welfare and health benefits from effective green travel planning.
	Economic—Local job creation and improvements to local transport provision resulting from office location, relocation and co-location projects.
	To date, we have reported on these impacts on a public internet site http://defraweb/corporate/sdstrategy/operations/index.htm. We continually seek to improve presentation, topicality and transparency of public reporting on our operational impacts.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what arrangements her Department has in place to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts.

Elliot Morley: Sustainable development is Defra's overarching aim and, as such, the Department's annual report gives details of its key sustainable development impacts. In addition, Defra will be publishing a sustainable development action plan in December 2005 detailing the Department's key actions in 2006. The action plan will be reported on annually.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on what action relating to sustainable development is (a) required and (b) undertaken by her Department's (i) executive agencies, (ii) advisory non-departmental bodies, (iii) executive non-departmental bodies, (iv) tribunals, (v) public corporations and (vi)other bodies.

Elliot Morley: All these bodies have commitments in the UK Government's sustainable development strategy and are required to deliver these commitments, while applying the sustainable development principles in the strategy. In December 2005, Defra and it's executive agencies will be publishing sustainable development action plans giving details of key sustainable development actions they will be delivering in 2006. Further information on other bodies could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of the bids made for contracts awarded by her Department; who makes such assessments; and whether such assessments are published.

Elliot Morley: From 1 November 2003, all central Government Departments must apply the minimum environmental standards when buying certain categories of products and commodities. All Departments are required to submit a Sustainable Development in Government Questionnaire annually to Defra's Sustainable Development Unit.
	The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate sets out the cross-Government strategy for managing the Government estate in a way which contributes fully to the sustainable development agenda. See www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/index.htm.
	Under Part F of the Framework, all Government Departments are required to implement the following targets:
	F1: Have a sustainable procurement strategy in place by 1 December 2005;
	F2: Have environmental clauses included within contracts;
	F3: Have sustainable procurement training developed and implemented.
	Currently, Defra procurement policy is to award contracts against the most economically advantageous tender criterion, having regard to the eligibility, economic and financial standing, ability, capability and technical capacity of the supplier to deliver the best whole life cost solution. Defra's policy on disclosure of documentation pertaining to commercial contracting is governed by the Freedom of Information Act. Requests for disclosure are considered on their merits relative to the nature of each specific request.
	In addition to this overarching policy, Defra considers environmental and sustainability factors under its sustainable operations strategy including its acquisition and use of energy, water, waste and recycling, bio-diversity, travel, paper, office stationery, office furniture, office equipment, and facilities management. The Department applies UK timber procurement policy and is utilising the public sector catering services toolkit that it has developed in conjunction with other Government Departments.
	As part of the sustainable procurement strategy required under Part F of the Framework, Defra will develop a sustainable procurement impact assessment tool (SPIAT) for use across Defra's commercial contracting portfolio.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) her Department and (b) its agencies came from renewable sources in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created on 8 June 2001.
	The proportion of electricity used in buildings for which Defra and its agencies has a contractual responsibility that came from renewable sources was:
	
		Percentage
		
			  (a) Defra (b) Defra agencies 
		
		
			 2001–02 22 17 
			 2002–03 45 38 
			 2003–04 77 40 
			 2004–05 83 48

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual spending by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies was on (i) electricity and (ii) on water and sewerage services in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created on 8 June 2001.
	The annual spending on (a) electricity and (b) water and sewerage services for buildings at which Defra and its agencies have contractual responsibility was as follows:
	
		£
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 (a) Defra 
			 Electricity 1,062,688 920,830 978,977 1,095,395 
			 Water and sewerage 181,066 151,170 138,714 137,397 
			  
			 (b) Executive agencies 
			 Electricity 1,229,560 1,662,247 1,382,569 1,684,433 
			 Water and sewerage 420,942 459,421 464,050 375,579

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what change there has been in water consumption by her Department between 2002 and 31 March 2005.

Jim Knight: Water consumption at Defra and executive agency sites where Defra has contractual liability for water was as follows:
	
		
			  Water consumption 
		
		
			 2002–03 417,343m(52) 
			 2004–05 328,564m(52) 
		
	
	This is a reduction of 21 per cent.
	To put this into the wider context of structural changes within the Department, consumption in the office-based estate has reduced from 7.98m 3 per person per year to 6.79m 3 during the period.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at which non-office sites on her Department's estate she has identified opportunities for significant water savings.

Jim Knight: The majority of non-office sites on the Defra estate are scientific or research establishments. Standard water benchmarking practices do not apply to their working practices, but site specific targets have been developed in collaboration with the Watermark project team, and water use at these sites is regularly monitored and analysed to identify potential savings.
	During 2004–05 works were carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to improve the steam/condensation mains system to improve water efficiency.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of copying paper used by her Department in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Jim Knight: For the two financial years in question, the percentages for printed publications are 100 per cent. and 100 per cent. for each year respectively; against the criteria of uncoated paper containing 100 per cent. recycled fibre and coated paper containing not less than 75 per cent. recycled fibre. For copying paper the percentages are 70 per cent. and 82.8 per cent. for each year respectively of which the content for each is 100 per cent. recycled fibre. The Department has amended its electronic catalogues to prevent acquisition of all virgin tinted papers.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of paper for printed publications used by the Department in 2003–04 and 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Jim Knight: For the two financial years in question, the percentages for printed publications printed through Defra's single central business unit are 100 per cent. and 100 per cent. for each year respectively; against the criteria of uncoated paper containing 100 per cent. recycled fibre and coated paper containing not less than 75 per cent. recycled fibre.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets to ensure that all copying paper brought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.

Elliot Morley: The Department has met the target.
	All copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets set by the Department to ensure that all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Jim Knight: The Sustainable Development in Government Report shows that Defra met the quick win target for paper for printed publications. This achievement owes much to the fact that most of Defra's printed publications are commissioned from a single central business unit using a central contract for recycled paper.
	This Department partnering ODPM and DfT in a collaborative procurement, promoted by OGC to other Government Departments as well as the wider public sector, established the contract. The contract was for thesupply of a suite of recycled papers that met the published recycled standards, as well as evaluating the environmental credentials of the production process.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has joined the Watermark project.

Jim Knight: Yes. Defra joined the Watermark project in September 2001. In September 2002, additional sites were included on the project. The majority of Defra office sites are now covered by the Watermark project.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by what date her Department expects to implement in full the quick win targets to ensure that (a) all copying paper brought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Jim Knight: The date for implementation of this quick win target is October 2005. Defra already meets the target for copying paper. For printed publications, all printed material sourced through Defra's communications directorate meets the requirements identified.

Sustainable Development

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's main suppliers of (i) copier paper, (ii)stationery, (iii) envelopes and (iv) paper for reports; in each case stating (a) the name of each paper used and (b) the recycled (and post-consumer recycled) content of each paper.

Jim Knight: The Department's main suppliers for (i)are Banner Business Suppliers, The Paper Company and Premier Paper; for (ii) are Banner Business Supplies, Office Depot; for (iii) is Banner Business Supplies; for (iv) are Robert Home Paper, Howard Smith Paper, James McNaughton, Premier Paper.
	The name of the white copier paper is Evolve which is 100 per cent. recycled fibre. For paper for reports, all papers meet the Defra criteria of uncoated paper containing 100 per cent. recycled fibre and coated paper containing not less than 75 per cent. recycled fibre.

Sustainable Development

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the role is of the Sustainable Development Commission; how and by whom its members are appointed; what the scientific credentials are of each of its members; and which of its members are known to have existing or past affiliations to green political organisations.

Elliot Morley: The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) is the principal Government adviser on sustainable development, reporting to the Prime Minister and to the leaders of the devolved administrations.
	The SDC's current remit is to advocate sustainable development across all sectors of the UK, particularlywithin Government (including the devolved administrations) and build consensus on the actions needed if further progress is to be achieved.
	However, this remit is under revision following a commitment in the UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy (Securing the future) to strengthen the SDC and expand its role to act as an independent 'watchdog' looking at Government's progress on the strategy.
	Members to the SDC are appointed by the Prime Minister and leaders of the devolved administrations. Appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice, and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) principles of merit and equal opportunities, with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process.
	The work of the commission is very wide-ranging, and commissioners are sought from a range of backgrounds to lead on specific areas of the commission's work, e.g. business, education, or energy and transport. During the selection process, candidates are assessed by merit against the advertised criteria, which focuses on demonstration of experience, not on formal qualifications. Therefore, details of specific scientific credentials of SDC commissioners are not held, but biographies of all commissioners are on the SDC's website: http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/about_us/commissioners.html
	Full details of the Sustainable Development Commissioners interests are available on the SDC's website at www.sd-commission.org.uk

Sustainable Development

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 20 July 2005, Official Report, column 1765W, on the Sustainable Procurement Task Force, what role the taskforce has in assessing the impact on sustainability of implementation of recommendations from the Gershon Review.

Elliot Morley: Through its Working Groups, the Sustainable Procurement Task Force is gathering evidence from both the public and private sectors on the extent to which public procurement is able to achieve efficiency gains as envisaged by the Gershon Review, while also meeting sustainable development objectives.
	The taskforce will make recommendations on these and other findings in the National Action Plan for Sustainable Procurement, to be submitted to Ministers in April 2006.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 255W, on taxis, what estimate she has made of the cost of providing the information requested.

Jim Knight: The estimated cost of an exercise to examine all the Department's expenses claims of the last five years and extract the costs of taxis is £140,000.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Defra seeks to purchase the timber used on and in its projects for building works from legal and sustainable sources. This policy applies equally to timber used for temporary site works and timber incorporated into the fabric of buildings or retained for Defra's use.
	Procurement centres in Defra and its executive agencies have been issued with guidance, including a model specification clause and contract condition, which explains how to seek to acquire timber and wood products from legal and sustainable sources. Building site supervisors are instructed to monitor compliance with these contract requirements.
	Defra's Estates Division is responsible for all major works and estate management on the Defra estate and that of the Pesticides Safety Directorate, the Rural Payments Agency, the State Veterinary Service, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Adherence to the timber policy for the Department and these executive agencies falls to this central body of staff, which is fully appraised of the timber purchase policy.
	The Central Science Laboratory and Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture are responsible for their own buildings and maintenance. They have also been made aware of the policy and have systems in place to ensure observance.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list her Department's refurbishment projects that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal and sustainable sources; and if she will issue guidance to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Jim Knight: The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its executive agencies are (a) undertaking, or (b) proposing to undertake within the next six months, the following refurbishment projects valued at over £100,000.
	(a) Offices, Nobel House, London
	Offices, Ashdown House, London
	(b) Offices, Eastbury House, London
	Procurement centres in Defra and its executive agencies have been issued with guidance, including a model specification clause and contract condition, which explains to contractors how to seek to acquire timber and wood products from legal and sustainable sources. Contractors for the projects listed are required to supply timber from legal and sustainable sources. Building site supervisors are instructed to monitor compliance with these contract requirements.

Timber

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to fund the maintenance of the central point of expertise on timber.

Elliot Morley: The question asks various Government Ministers what plans they have to fund the maintenance of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET). CPET is the responsibility of the Department and so I am replying on behalf of the Government.
	Defra has made an agreement with consultants ProForest to begin operating the CPET helpline and other services that will help UK public sector bodies andtheir suppliers to purchase their timber from legal and sustainable sources. It is possible that Defra will be able to meet the full cost of operating CPET from within its own financial resources. We will be able to forecast this more accurately in the light of the demands made on the CPET over the coming months. As a contingency measure Defra would be able to call on contributions agreed with some other Government Departments to help with any shortfall during the first three years of operation.

US Warship Disposal

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Hartlepool-based ghost ships.

Ben Bradshaw: The future of the four US ships at Teesside is primarily a matter for the US Marine Administration, as owners of the vessels, and Able UK, who are seeking the necessary permissions for dismantling the vessels at their Teesside facility.
	The four US ships are currently docked in Able UK's Graythorp dock on Teesside. Able UK submitted applications for planning permission in January 2005. These applications, which include proposals for the construction and refurbishment of quays, the construction of a cofferdam and new dock gates, are being determined by the relevant planning authority, Hartlepool borough council. The council is currently waiting for Able UK to resubmit the environment statement in support of their applications before they determine the application. Able UK made an application for a waste management licence to the Environment Agency in February 2005. This application also cannot be determined until Able UK's environment statement is completed.
	In the meantime, dismantling work is prevented by a condition in the existing waste management licence. The dock facility itself is subject to regular inspection by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Health and Safety Executive. Environmental monitoring indicates that storage of the four US naval ships at Able UK's Graythorp dock has not had a detrimental impact on the environment.

Video Conferencing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many video conferencing units are installed in her Department and in each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Jim Knight: The number of videoconferencing units installed in Defra and associated agencies is as follows:
	Defra:
	24 units amounting to 26 per cent. of total offices (NB—units are installed in all medium to large offices).
	There are plans to install additional units in Whitehall Place and York.
	Rural Payments Agency:
	Seven units amounting to 63 per cent. of total sites.
	State Veterinary Services:
	18 units amounting to 30 per cent. of all sites
	Veterinary Laboratories Agency:
	16 units at 14 sites amounting to 100 per cent. of all sites.
	Veterinary Medicines Directorate:
	One unit at one site amounting to 100 per cent. of all sites.
	Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science:
	Four units at four sites amounting to 100 per cent. of all sites.
	Central Science Laboratory:
	One unit at one site amounting to 100 per cent. of all sites.
	Pesticides Safety Directorate:
	0 units. NB—staff at the main PSD office at York makes use of the Defra videoconferencing unit in the adjacent building.

Water (Charges/Leakage)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to provide financial assistance to people on low incomes in Essex to pay their water charges.

Elliot Morley: The Government takes the issue of water affordability very seriously but believes that solutions must be explored from a national, rather than a regional, perspective. A steering group was set up last year to look into water affordability issues. The Steering Group reported to Ministers in autumn 2004 and the Government's report into affordability was published in December 2004.
	Financial support for families and for pensioners on low and moderate incomes has risen significantly in recent years. The Government will press on with its policy of promoting fairness and using changes to the tax and benefit system to tackle poverty but is not minded to introduce an explicit linkage between the tax and benefit system and water charges.
	The Government have already taken action, through legislation, to provide protection in the form of a capped bill for vulnerable, low income groups in receipt of a metered supply who might otherwise cut back on water that they could not afford.

Water (Charges/Leakage)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 13W, on water leaks, if she will meet Thames Water to discuss steps to reduce the rate of increase in water leakage across the company's area of supply.

Elliot Morley: Thames Water have taken steps to reduce the rate of leakage across its area of supply. During 2004–05 the company reduced overall leakage for the first time since 1999–2000. However, they still failed to meet their overall leakage target of 905 Megalitres/day by 10 Megalitres/day (1.1 per cent.). Reported leakage was 915 Megalitres/day in 2004–05.
	Despite not meeting their overall target, the leakage targets were met in the area outside of London and in South London. It is the North London area where Thames Water continues to have real problems with the control of leakage and this area remains the main challenge.
	Ofwat continue to require Thames Water to provide quarterly reports on the progress the company is making with its plan, agreed with the regulator, to restore leakage to its target level and achieve adequate security of supplies. These reports indicate that they are continuing to reduce leakage in line with their current targets. Ofwat has set Thames Water the target of reducing leakage to 725MI/d by 2009–10.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and Ministers are kept informed of water company performance on leakage and have raised concerns over Thames Water's previous performance on leakage. The Secretary of State has no plans to meet with Thames Water to discuss leakage while the company continues to make progress in line with targets.

PRIME MINISTER

Afghanistan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the President of Afghanistan on the illegal drug trade.

Tony Blair: I met President Karzai on 19 July, and we discussed a range of issues including counter-narcotics work. I also refer my hon. Friend to the 'Joint declaration of an enduring relationship between the UK and Afghanistan'. This is available on the No. 10 website.

Aviation and Aircraft Fuel

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Prime Minister whether he raised with his colleagues in the G8 taxation of aviation and aircraft fuel.

Tony Blair: At this year's summit, my G8 colleagues and I focused on addressing the challenges of African development and global climate change. On Africa, we agreed a set of measures to help Africa overcome the huge challenges it faces. This included a doubling of aid to the continent by 2010. In helping to achieve this, a group of the G8 countries agreed to continue to consider innovative forms of finance, such as the International Finance Facility and a levy on plane tickets. A working group will consider the implementation of these.
	The G8 leaders also agreed to act with urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They agreed an action plan to help do this. One part of this wide-ranging plan is a programme of work to examine urgently the impact that aviation is having on the climate, and the scope for technological and operational solutions. We welcome the European Commission's announcement that it supports the inclusion of the aviation emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Climate Change

Colin Challen: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) hon. Members and (b) representatives of civil society are able to participate in the continuing dialogue on climate change referred to in his statement at the G8.

Tony Blair: Climate change is the most important long-term challenge that the world faces. That means involving every section of society in action to tackle it. Throughout our G8 presidency we have held a number of events on climate change science and the first ever meeting of G8 environment and energy Ministers. I have held regular meetings with representatives of various environmental organisations and business leaders. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has also engaged with Members from both Houses, as well as other G8 countries, and emerging economy countries. We shall continue this dialogue.
	We shall continue to engage with civil society and parliamentarians in the future. This will be fed in to the dialogue between the G8 and the rapidly growing economies including China and India which was agreed by the G8 leaders at Gleneagles and which will commence with a meeting in London this November.

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list management consultants employed by his Office in each of the last three years.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 12 September 2005, Official Report, columns 2241–42W by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (John Hutton).

Correspondence

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Prime Minister what his Office's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Tony Blair: My office has arrangements with the FCO to translate letters received in languages other than English.

Departmental Staff

Peter Robinson: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff were employed by his Office on (a) 1 May 2004 and (b) 1 May 2005.

Tony Blair: The total number of staff on the No. 10 payroll at the end of each of the financial years referred to is set out as follows.
	
		Departmental staff
		
			 Date Number of staff 
		
		
			 1April 2004 214 
			 1 April 2005 226

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Prime Minister how much his office has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by his Office; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Harriet Harman).

Intelligence and Security Committee

Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what criteria are used to appoint members of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Tony Blair: The criteria for appointing the Intelligence and Security Committee are set out in Section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994. I appoint the Chairman and other members of the Intelligence and Security Committee after consultation with the leaders of the main opposition parties. Membership of the Committee must be drawn from both Houses and cannot include a Minister of the Crown.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister whatthe total expenditure saved was in each of the last three years in his Department as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster today.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the five management consultancies which received the highest value of contracts awarded by his Department in each of the last three years and the total value of the contracts awarded to each.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2241W.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Office has spent on external media relations in each of the last 12 months.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 November 2004, Official Report, column 855W by my right hon. Friend the then Minister for the Cabinet Office (Ruth Kelly).

Muslim Faith (Meetings)

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Prime Minister what the outcome was of his meeting with Muslim faith representatives on Tuesday 19 July.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to my opening remarks at the press conference I held with President Karzai and to the press briefing given by my official spokesman on Tuesday 19 July. Transcripts of each are available on the No. 10 website.

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Prime Minister what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by his Office in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

Tony Blair: My Office has conducted no opinion survey research in the past 12 months.

Royal Prerogative

Michael Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each occasion when he has exercised the Royal Prerogative since 1997.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Alistair Carmichael) on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 802W.

State-owned Ministerial Quarters

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list alterations made to state-owned ministerial quarters funded from public funds since 1 May 1997.

Tony Blair: Information relating to alterations made to Ministers official residences is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Telephone Inquiries

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Prime Minister what facilities his Office has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Tony Blair: My office has no specific facilities, but would enlist the help of other Government Departments where possible.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Identity Cards

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the estimated cost of identity cards.

Andy Burnham: The unit cost of issuing together a combined passport and identity card package, valid for 10 years, is estimated as £93. This includes the cost of issuing biometric passports which amounts to around 70 per cent. of the total and which we will have to do to keep our passports secure.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1242W, to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Alan Simpson) on identity cards, whether the radio frequency identification technologies undergoing feasibility studies for biometric passports and identity cards include (a) read only tags, (b) read write tags and (c) both.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The identity cards programme is not investigating the use of radio frequency identification for tagging. We are considering the use of 'contactless chips', which contain radio frequency chips. We will ensure that sensitive data on the chip is encrypted and are aiming to do this through adoption of emerging International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards. These provide significantly more security of data than exists today.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of privacy-enhancing technologies in the context of the UK identity cards system.

Charles Clarke: As part of specifying technical requirements for the identity card scheme, research into methods and technologies that seek to protect the privacy of citizen's data has been conducted and will be used to evaluate proposals received once procurement commences.
	In general, we have examined the use of strong encryption technologies and digital signatures to protect the privacy of any sensitive information held on the card and to authenticate the information.
	In addition, the National Identity Register (NIR) will be held in secure facilities within an appropriate security infrastructure to protect the information held. All communication links with the NIR will be encrypted.
	Working processes within such facilities will need to comply with industry best practices, including segregation of operator role, robust accounting and audit processes.
	In line with Office of Government Commerce guidelines, due to commercial sensitivity, it would not be appropriate to release further information in advance of procurement as it may prejudice these negotiations.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alternative technical architectures his Department has considered for the identity cards scheme.

Charles Clarke: As part of setting technical requirements for the Identity Cards Scheme, we have undertaken research into potential architectures and this work will be used to inform our evaluation of proposals received once procurement commences.
	However, ultimately, potential bidders will propose alternative solutions for the technical architecture of the National Identity Register (NIR), based on the technical requirements outlined by the Scheme. Hence, the detailed technical architecture of the NIR will not be finalised until the final stages of procurement negotiations.

Identity Cards

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice his Department has received from chief information officers of other Government Departments and agencies on the identity cards scheme, with particular reference (a) to (i) NHS Connecting for Health, (ii) the Department for Work and Pensions, (iii) HM Revenue and Customs, (iv) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (v) the UK Passports Agency and (b) to the (A) costs and (B)feasibility of the project.

Charles Clarke: The Identity Cards Programme Team has regular and wide ranging discussions across Government in relation to different aspects of the scheme, including the organisations listed in the question. These discussions have informed the contents of the Regulatory Impact Assessment, which was published on 25 May 2005, and the Identity Cards Scheme Benefits Overview, which was published on 28 June 2005.

Identity Cards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he expects the identity card system to help to reduce the number of illegal immigrants residing in the UK.

Andy Burnham: Once individuals routinely present their ID cards in order to receive education, benefits and non-emergency health care or to gain legal employment then it will be more difficult for those here illegally to access these services or to find work. This is likely in turn to reduce the pull factors that encourage individuals to illegally enter or remain in the UK.

Identity Cards

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of times the identity card database would be used in order to secure the effective and efficient delivery of public services; and whether the consent of the individual cardholder would be required.

Andy Burnham: Currently, the identity cards programme is continuing to work with public service providers to gather their requirements as potential user organisations of the identity cards scheme. However, the number of occasions that a person will be asked to verify their identity against the National Identity Register will be a decision for the user organisation themselves. This is likely to be dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of their relationship with the individual (e.g. first time interaction, maintenance of details, transactional relationship) and their own business processes.
	As such, it is not possible to provide a final estimate for the number of times the Register will be used to verify the identity of an individual in order to secure the effective and efficient provision of public services until further work is completed.
	However, in such circumstances, the consent of the individual would always be necessary unless verification was undertaken either under the powers set out in Clauses 15–18 of the Identity Cards Bill (required identity checks for public services) where the individual would be aware of the check, or where verification was undertaken without consent in the very specific, limited, purposes laid out in Clauses 19–23 of the Identity Cards Bill.

Police Force Structures

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent HM inspectorate of constabulary report on police structures.

Charles Clarke: In September we published the findings of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's review of the capacity of police forces to provide the necessary level of protective services to safeguard the public from the threats posed by terrorism, organised crime and civil emergencies. The inspectorate found that the 43 force structure is no longer fit for purpose.
	In the light of the inspectorate's clear professional advice, I have asked chief officers and police authorities to submit proposals for restructuring to me by the end of the year. I have made it clear that I fully endorse the inspectorate's conclusion that the creation of strategic forces offers the best long term business solution.

Extended Licensing Hours

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the law and order implications of extended licensing hours.

Hazel Blears: The Government believes that the current licensing regime exacerbates crime and disorder by encouraging people to drink as much as possible before last orders and forcing large numbers of people on to the streets at exactly the same time. Licensing reforms will put an end to this practice and give licensing authorities the power to impose flexible licensing sanctions to address specific problems as well as additional powers for the police.

Asylum Seekers

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the process for removing failed asylum seeker families.

Charles Clarke: The process for removing failed asylum seeking families varies depending upon the individual circumstances of each case. Once all appeal rights have been exhausted, a family is expected to make immediate arrangements to leave and is made aware of its liability to be removed if it fails to do so voluntarily.

Welsh Police Forces

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with (a) police authorities in Wales and (b) the Police Federation in Wales on the possible amalgamation of police forces.

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct a review of the structure of police forces in England and Wales.

Charles Clarke: I and my officials have had several recent discussions with police authority chairs, including chairs of police authorities in Wales, on the issue of restructuring. I have invited the Association of Police Authorities, which represents police authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to be members of a steering group that will oversee the process.
	We will maintain a regular dialogue with the police staff associations including the Police Federation of England and Wales, all of which will be invited to participate in this process as part of a stakeholder group.

Intercept Information

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of intercept information in criminal proceedings.

Charles Clarke: As I said in a written statement to the House on 26 January this year, the Government continues to keep this issue under review.
	Work is currently under way to examine the impact that imminent changes to communications technology will have on our interception capabilities and the implications of this for evidential use of intercept.
	At the same time, we are examining whether a pre-trial sift procedure, as recommended by the noble Lord Newton, could provide the sort of protection that would be needed in order to use sensitive material in criminal proceedings.
	I will report on the conclusions of the work in both these areas in the new year.

Police

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent guidance his Department has issued on the amount of time spent by police officers on the beat.

Hazel Blears: We have not issued guidance on the deployment of officers to beat duties as this is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police.
	In line with the efficiency strategy for the police service we expect the service to increase time spent on front-line policing to around 72 per cent. by March 2008. This would be a gain equivalent to more than 12,000 extra officers over the next three years.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration and Nationality Directorate continues to make good progress in delivering its PSA and other business targets.
	Work to implement the Government's five-year asylum and immigration strategy is well under way in consultation with a range of stakeholders. The strategy will enable us to develop a simpler, clearer, tighter system which will lead to further improvements in performance.

Operation Minstead

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the techniques used in Operation Minstead by the Metropolitan police to obtain voluntary DNA samples from black men in south London.

Hazel Blears: Operation Minstead is a large scale investigation by the Metropolitan police into a series of rapes and attempted rapes on elderly women in south London. The first offence was in 1992. A further 97 offences are being investigated, the most recent of which was in February 2005. The elderly traumatised victims have been able to provide some information to the police about the offender. The investigation has been under way for several years, but no-one has yet been caught and charged.
	This is an operational policing matter for the Metropolitan Police Service. No formal assessment has been made by the Home Office of the techniques used in any aspect of the investigation.
	We understand from the Metropolitan police that three reviews of Operation Minstead have been conducted by the MPS Murder Review Group to ensure procedural good practice. The MPS has also advised that the arrest policy was in accordance with Association of Chief Police Officers good practice guidance and had been checked with the Crown Prosecution Service.

Under-age Drinking

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent the sale of alcohol to people aged under 16 years.

Paul Goggins: It is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 and police and other partners use a range of powers to help prevent the sale of alcohol to those who are under-age. From next month the penalties for those convicted of selling to underage drinkers will be raised significantly. The Government are also introducing in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill, a new power to close down licensed premises for up to 48 hours for selling alcohol to under 18's.

Advertising Expenditure

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total advertising expenditure of his Department was in 2004–05.

Charles Clarke: The amount spent by the Home Office on advertising in 2004–05 was £10.2 million. Information campaigns included Acquisitive Crime, Drugs, Child Protection, Police Recruitment, Guns and Domestic Violence.

Antisocial Behaviour Unit

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was claimed in (a) taxi fares and (b) hotel bills by the head of the antisocial behaviour unit in the last financial year.

Charles Clarke: We are unable to obtain this information without incurring disproportionate costs.

Anti-terrorism Laws

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many individuals have been issued with (a) derogatory and (b) non-derogatory control orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005; and how many of these had restrictions or prohibitions made in respect of their (i) place of residence and (ii) movements in and around the United Kingdom;
	(2)  how many individuals have been arrested and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 where he is seeking a derogatory control order; and for how many of these control orders have been issued.

Charles Clarke: I refer the right hon. Member to my statement of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 23WS when I made my first three-monthly report to Parliament on the exercise of control order powers.

Communication Data

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the revised draft of the acquisition and disclosure of communication data code of practice.

Charles Clarke: Pre-consultation version of the revised draft code of practice for the acquisition and disclosure of communications data, under Chapter II of Part I of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, is published on the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs4/CoP_Pre_consultation_ draft1.pdf
	Formal public consultation on a revised draft code of practice is expected to take place in the autumn.

Departmental Advertising

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) the Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible spent on advertising in 2004–05, broken down by media type.

Charles Clarke: The information is as follows:
	(a) Advertising figures for the Home Office shows that £10.2 million was spent on advertising:
	£4.76 million on TV
	£1.51 million on radio
	£1.91 million on press/magazines
	£2.01 million on outdoor posters
	Information campaigns included acquisitive crime, drugs, recruitment of police officers, domestic violence, firearms and internet child protection.
	(b) The Home Office does not hold advertising spend data for non-departmental bodies.

European Constitution

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy that mutual recognition and approximation of laws as provided for in Articles III-269 and III-270 of the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe could be agreed without ratification of the Treaty.

Andy Burnham: Mutual recognition and approximation of laws as provided for in the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe cannot be agreed unless that treaty is ratified. However, there is significant work that can and is being continued in these fields under existing treaties and without ratification of the Constitutional treaty.
	The EU has a programme of measures on mutual recognition including the agreed European arrest warrant and the European evidence warrant which is under negotiation. The EU has also established minimum provisions in some areas of the substantive criminal law and minimum penalties for a range of serious cross border crimes. These include trafficking in human beings and terrorism offences.

Food Procurement

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent by his Department on public procurement of food in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of that expenditure was covered under Crown Immunity on food safety matters.

Charles Clarke: The core Home Office do not buy food other than light refreshments for meetings. This is covered under the 2 Marsham Street PFI contract and expenditure will be included in the facilities management service charge. Information covering specific items such as this is not held centrally but in any case is likely to be minimal.
	The Prison Service expended £44,087, £255.00 in the period April 2004 to March 2005 from its central contracts. The figure would exclude small/minor one off purchases made by establishments. This further information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Food Safety Act removed Crown Immunity from the Prison Service so the amount aforementioned is subject to all relevant food hygiene regulations.

Identity Card

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what incentives will be put in place to encourage people to apply for an identity card in advance of their passport coming up for renewal.

Charles Clarke: There are no incentives currently planned to encourage people to apply for an identity card in advance of their passport renewal.
	However, Government research conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres demonstrated that 26 per cent. of passport holders would be prepared to take-up an ID card voluntarily before their passport expires. This research was published on 28 June 2005 and is available on the Identity Cards website.

Identity Card

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis is for the statement on page 8 of the document, Identity Cards Scheme Benefits Overview", that the ability for the police to check scene of crime marks against the National Identity Register will result in savings of £40 million per annum; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: We have used Home Office statistics on the success of police fingerprint systems and our understanding of the proposed operation of the Identity Card Scheme to model the benefit of identifying scenes of crime fingerprint lifts over and above that of existing police processes.
	As more fingerprint lifts are identified, the police are able to eliminate those with legitimate access more quickly from their investigation while developing additional leads on suspects. Some of these leads will result in crime detections and halt criminal careers. This in turn will contribute to reducing economic harm caused by crime, which has also been well researched.
	Together, these pieces of research allowed us to quantify the benefits of the ID card in this area at 40 million.

Illegal Drugs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the street price of illegal drugs in the last two years.

Charles Clarke: UK average street prices for illegal drugs for the past two years are shown in the tables. The figures are worked out on the basis of information provided to the National Criminal Intelligence Service by all UK law enforcement authorities.
	
		
			  Herbal cannabis (£ per ounce) Cannabis resin (£ per ounce) Cocaine (£ per gram) 
		
		
			 April 2003 82 76 56 
			 August 2003 74 66 55 
			 December 2003 72 66 55 
			 April 2004 73 66 52 
			 August 2004 71 62 53 
			 December 2004 72 61 51 
			 April 2005 77 61 51 
		
	
	
		
			  Crack (£ per 0.2g rock) Heroin (£ per gram) Ecstasy (£ per dose) 
		
		
			 April 2003 19 61 6 
			 August 2003 19 61 5 
			 December 2003 19 62 5 
			 April 2004 19 59 4 
			 August 2004 19 56 4 
			 December 2004 18 55 4 
			 April 2005 19 53 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Amphetamine (per gram) Skunk (per ounce) LSD (per dose) 
		
		
			 April 2003 9 127 3.10 
			 August 2003 9 121 3 
			 December 2003 9 114 3 
			 April 2004 8 118 3 
			 August 2004 9 121 3 
			 December 2004 8 121 — 
			 April 2005 9 123 4

Illegal Immigrants

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employers have been fined for employing illegal immigrants in each year since 1997.

Charles Clarke: The latest available information on the number of persons found guilty under Section 8 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1996 for employing illegal immigrants and those found guilty under section25 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971 relating to the entry of an illegal entrant are shown in the following table.
	Section 25 (1) of the Immigration Act 1971 is legislation related to facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant. Some of those cases will have involved people who import and supply illegal workers. Offences of knowingly facilitating the entry of an asylum claimant, or leave to remain of a person, by means of deception were added by the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 Section 8 and it came into force on 27 January 1997.
	
		Persons found guilty of offences under Immigration Acts 1971 Section 25 (1) and 1996 Section 8, at all courts, England and Wales 1997 to 2003 -- Number of persons
		
			   Found guilty 
			 Act and Section Offence(50) description 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(51) 
		
		
			 Asylum and Immigration Act 1996   
			 8 Employing a person subject to immigration control n/a 1 1 4 1 1 1 
			  
			 Immigration Act 1971(52)   
			 25 (1) (a) Knowingly facilitating the entry of an illegal entrant 130 115 149 141 141 204 165 
			 25 (1) (b) Knowingly facilitating the entry of an asylum claimant (53)— 3 6 3 9 5 9 
			  
			 25 (1) (c) Knowingly facilitating leave to remain of persons by means of deception 1 5 6 7 3 6 9 
		
	
	n/a=ot applicable.
	(50)Principal immigration offence.
	(51)Provisional figures.
	(52)As added by Section 5 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996.
	(53)Nil.

Illegal Immigrants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been found within UK borders in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: The number of persons who have had enforcement action initiated against them as illegal entrants in each year since 1997 is given in the accompanying table.
	People who have had enforcement action initiated against them may then be removed from the country. There may be some barriers to removal including:
	judicial or human rights applications;
	lack of documentation (without which an applicant cannot be returned);
	absence of a travel route, lack of co-operation from receiving countries or scheduled flight services (resulting in lengthy documentation processes or use of charter flights).
	Alternatively, some people may decide to leave voluntarily, after enforcement action has been initiated against them and others may chose to leave via assisted voluntary returns programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration.
	Information on persons who have had enforcement action initiated against them in 2004 will be included in the Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2004. This was published in August and is available on the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	
		Persons against whom illegal entry enforcement action was initiated, 1997 to 2003(54)(5508110055)
		
			  Number of persons 
		
		
			 1997 14,390 
			 1998 16,500 
			 1999 21,165 
			 2000 47,325 
			 2001 69,875 
			 2002 48,050 
			 2003(56) — 
		
	
	(54)Illegal entrants detected and issued enforcement notice.
	(55)Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
	(56)Data were not of sufficient quality for publication in 2003, however it is estimated that 22,950 illegal entrants had enforcement action initiated against them in this year. Due to poor data quality this is not an official national statistic.

Marriage Applications

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate has been made of the number of bogus marriages in the UK in each year since 1997; and what proportion of marriages this represented in each year.

Charles Clarke: It is impossible to estimate the number of bogus marriages taking place in the UK as this is a clandestine activity. Where there are obvious signs of abuse, registrars will report their suspicions to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) in the form of section 24 reports. Introduced as a provision of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, these were brought into force in January 2001. Since then, IND has received the following numbers of section of 24 reports:
	
		
			  Number of section 24 reports received by IND 
		
		
			 2001 752 
			 2002 1,205 
			 2003 2,684 
			 2004 3,578 
			 2005(57) 247 
		
	
	(57)To 30 April
	Further measures to combat sham marriages were introduced in February this year. The new provisions require those subject to immigration control, who wish to give notice of marriage in the UK, to have:
	an entry clearance for the purpose of marriage; or
	a certificate of approval for marriage from the Home Office which shows that they are in the UK lawfully; or
	proof that they have settled status in the UK.
	Registrars will not accept notice without this evidence. Notice can only be given at one of a restricted number of designated register offices.
	Since these provisions were introduced, there has been a marked decrease in the number of suspicious marriages reported by registrars. 166 section 24 reports were made in January 2005. This was reduced to 35 reports in February and 18 reports in March.

Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the unit cost of a passport in each of the next 10 years if the Identity Cards Bill is not passed by Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: In 2004–05 the actual average unit cost of issuing and delivering a passport was £38.30. In 2005–06, the UK Passport Service will begin issuing passports containing facial biometrics; these will be phased in progressively. The UK Passport Service has developed financial estimates only for the next two financial years. The average unit cost of producing a passport, accounting for the phasing in of facial biometrics, is estimated to be:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2005–06 42.36 
			 2006–07 57.93 
		
	
	No further estimates have been made as the Identity Cards Bill, which is now before Parliament, will change the basis on which passports are issued should it receive Royal Assent.

Passports

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether external contractors will be involved in the introduction of facial and fingerprint biometrics in passports; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The first generation of biometric passports will contain a single facial image that meets the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and US visa waiver scheme. The introduction of a biometric passport will be undertaken through current arrangements for passport application processing systems and passport book production. Third party suppliers for major components will be assessed in conjunction with the existing prime contractors to ensure value for money.
	The development of the next generation of passports will consider further biometrics in the form of Iris and Fingerprint in light of evolving ICAO standards and EU requirements and international standards for travel documents. The Procurement strategy for the inclusion of a second biometric is under development and it is too early to determine the extent of external supplier involvement.

Police (Lancashire)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police cells have been taken out of action in Lancashire since 1997.

Charles Clarke: This is an operational matter for the chief constable of Lancashire constabulary but I understand that the information is not available. However, I understand that in 1999 the total number of all police cells (including detention rooms) that were in regular use in the Lancashire police area was 186.

Policy Costings

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costings of (a) Liberal Democrat and (b) Conservative party policies his Department has (i)undertaken, (ii) co-ordinated in the previous 12 months and (iii) advised upon in the previous 12 months.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1334W.

Press Office

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on the Department's press office; and how many press officers have been employed in each year since 2002.

Charles Clarke: Press Officers within the Home Office are employed at the Information Officer (IO) and Senior Information Officer (SIO) grades.
	The Press Office spend for each year includes pay costs (all grades); overtime (all grades); all general office running costs and all other Press Office expenditure.
	
		
			  Total Spend (£) 
		
		
			 2002–03 39 3,009,489 
			 2003–04 39 2,959,966 
			 2004–05(58) 43 (58)2,777,578 
		
	
	(58)2004–05, based on the latest financial reports. However, the accounts have not yet closed and the total may change due to any reconciling that takes place.
	The Press Office expanded in 2000–01 following an external consultant's review of its operation in 1999. The review recommended the creation of the Newsdesk" so as to better meet the demands of the media. This improved efficiency from 'losing' in excess of 20 per cent. of the calls pre expansion, to a position where from June 2003 to June 2004, 91.8 per cent. of the 67,070 press calls received by the Newsdesk were answered.
	The Home Office press office and the Prison Service press office merged in May 2001.
	In 2003–04 the Press Office Newsdesk answered 60,039 calls; Press Office issued 583 press notices and held 29 briefings for the media. The Press Office operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week to meet demands of the 24hour news agenda.

Racist Assaults

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of racist assaults which took place in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: In 2004–05, there were 3,677 offences of racially and religiously aggravated common assault and 5,312 offences of less serious wounding recorded by the police in England and Wales.

Schengen Agreement

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list each element of the Schengen acquis to which the UK has acceded, with the(a) dates of accession and (b) the date on which this was notified to Parliament in each case.

Andy Burnham: As of 1 January 2005 the UK participates in the judicial cooperation, drugs cooperation, obligations on carriers, measures to combat trafficking of human beings and police cooperation parts of the Schengen acquis. The relevant Schengen articles and implementing conventions are listed in articles 1(a) (i), (b) , (c) (i) and (d) (i) of Council Decision 2000/365/EC, and the relevant Schengen building measures adopted since Decision 2000/365/EC are listed in the annexes to Council Decision 2004/926/EC.
	My hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) informed the House the application of parts of the provisions of the Schengen aquis to the UK would soon be ready for adoption, by way of a written answer on 15 December 2004, Official Report, column 1177W and informed the House by way of a written answer on 1 February 2005, Official Report, column 830W that Council Decision on the putting into effect of parts of the Schengen acquis by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (2004/926/EC) had come into force.

Stolen Passports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment how many passports were stolen in each of the last three years for which figures are available, broken down by police force area; and how many of those passports were subsequently used fraudulently.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The numbers of passports reported as lost or stolen for the last three years are as follows:
	2002—166,358
	2003—184,301
	2004—306,406
	The figures for 2002 and 2003 are collated from applications for replacement passports, and therefore may not accurately reflect all passports that were lost or stolen in those years. The figures for 2004 have been collated from new arrangements that more accurately reflect the numbers of passports reported to the UK Passport Service (UKPS) as lost or stolen. The reporting process does not discriminate between passports reported as lost and those reported as stolen. It is not possible to break down these totals by police force area, and UKPS do not have figures on the subsequent use of such passports in fraudulent activities.

Terrorist Attack (London)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long it took the emergency services to reach each of the underground trains attacked on 7 July; and how long it took to reach the bus that was attacked.

Charles Clarke: The following table is drawn from information provided by the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service. The times given are those at which the control room was first notified and when the first crews were officially recorded as arriving at the locations to which they were mobilised. This may not have been the trains themselves as a number were deep underground. As three of the scenes were at stations, British Transport Police Officers were often already on the scene. Additionally many police officers who were near the scenes self deployed to assist.
	
		Response times—7 July attacks
		
			  Metropolitan/City of London Police London Ambulance Service London Fire Brigade 
			  Notification Arrival Notification Arrival Notification Arrival 
		
		
			 Aldgate Tube Station 08.51 08.59 08.51 09.03 08.56 09.00 
			 Edgware Road Tube Station 09.08 09.22 09.02 09.09 08.58 09.04 
			 Kings Cross/Russell Square Tube Station 08.56 09.07 09.04 09.14 09.02 09.07 
			 Tavistock Square Bus 09.47 (59)— 09.48 09.58 09.47 (60)09.54 
		
	
	(59)Officers already on scene
	(60)Approximately

Timber

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office uses a standard timber procurement contract clause when tendering for construction and refurbishment projects. This stipulates that timber used in those projects must be from legal and sustainable sources.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the arrangements at Yarl's Wood Detention Centre, with particular reference to children being held there.

Tony McNulty: Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre is currently used to detain single women and families with children. We have no plans to review or to change these arrangements.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Fraud

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females have been (i) charged with and (ii) convicted of benefit fraud in (A) Essex, (B) Southend and (C) England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many (a) males and (b) females pleaded guilty to benefit fraud in each area in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 30, (iii) 31 to 35, (iv) 36 to 40 and (v) over 40 years were (1) charged and (2) convicted of benefit fraud in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 17 to 24, (ii) 25 to 30, (iii) 31 to 35, (iv) 36 to 40 and (v) over 40 years pleaded guilty to benefit fraud in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Benefit Fraud

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many convictions for benefit fraud there were in each year since 1997.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Convictions for benefit fraud
		
			 April to March DWP Local authorities 
		
		
			 1997–98 11,386 700 
			 1998–99 9,967 800 
			 1999–2000 9,129 900 
			 2000–01 11,403 1,100 
			 2001–02 11,183 1,732 
			 2002–03 9,267 2,503 
			 2003–04 9,091 3,747 
			 2004–05 8,573 4,688 
		
	
	Note:
	1.For local authorities, figures prior to 2001–02 have been rounded to the nearest 100 because they include estimated values for non-responding local authorities.
	Sources:
	1.DSS/DWP figures are taken from Fraud Information By Sector and National Investigation Service (NIS) Resource Management.
	2.From 2001–02 onwards, the numbers are taken from subsidy claim forms. Prior to this, the numbers are taken from management information returns.

Benefit Fraud

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps (a) he has taken and (b) plans to take to reduce benefit fraud; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: We have firm targets to reduce fraud and error overpayments in income support and jobseeker's allowance for working age people by 33 per cent. by March 2004, and by 50 per cent. by March 2006.
	By September 2004, we had reduced fraud and error in income support and jobseeker's allowance by 41 per cent. to 6.1 per cent. compared with the 1998 baseline figure of 10.4 per cent. achieving the first stage of the target. At the same time, we had reduced the level of fraud in working age income support and jobseeker's allowance by more than half.
	This shows we are getting results in preventing, detecting and deterring fraud. We have improved data matching to catch people who work and claim and other tools in our armoury, such as the National Benefit Fraud Hotline mean we are clamping down on fraudsters.
	The Targeting Fraud campaign has helped to increase public awareness of the problem of fraud and is currently targeting fraudsters and potential fraudsters directly, with messages of deterrence and detection, warning them that 'We're on to you'.
	In 2004–05, in partnership with local authorities, we imposed nearly 43,000 prosecutions and sanctions—more than ever before.
	Our efforts in the future will focus on further development of our effective criminal investigation structure for fraud and strong controls on the day-to-day processing of benefit claims to stop fraud before it starts.

Child Support Agency

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions the Child Support Agency's internal audit recommended that risk mitigation plans be (a) kept up to date and (b) actioned timeously.

James Plaskitt: DWP internal audit has only made the recommendation once in the last three years. The recommendation was business unit specific and not applicable to the whole agency. Following the review and implementation of the business unit action plan the recommendation was cleared.

Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Work and Pensions awards all contracts in line with the UK's objective of achieving value for money by selecting the most economically advantageous tender, and in line with EU Treaty obligations on transparency and free movement of goods and services.
	The Department does not currently have any contracts directly with contractors based in other EU member states. It does have contracts with the following contractors whose holding companies have their head offices registered in other EU member states:
	Arval PHH Vehicle Solutions Ltd.—whose holding company BMP Paribas is registered in France;
	Atos Origin IT Services UK Ltd. and Atos Origin Medical Services UK Ltd.—whose holding company Atos Origin is registered in France;
	Cap Gemini UK Plc—whose holding company Cap Gemini is registered in France;
	Ecotec Research and Consulting Ltd.—whose holding company Ecory's is registered in the Netherlands;
	Security Printing Systems Ltd.—whose holding company Authentos is registered in Germany;
	Siemens Plc—whose holding company Siemens is registered in Germany; and
	TNT UK Ltd.—whose holding company TPG is registered in the Netherlands.

CSA

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in circumstances where a parent with care moves to a non-EU country, whether the parent without care is required to (a) continue paying child support as originally assessed by the Child Support Agency, (b) pay according to a new assessment taking into account the local circumstances of the new country of residence and (c) cease child support payments; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The Child Support Agency can only calculate and collect child maintenance if the person with care, non-resident parent and qualifying child are all habitually resident in the UK. However, if a non resident parent lives and works abroad for the Crown or a UK based company, the Child Support Agency may have the jurisdiction to continue the case. In these cases, they are required to pay child support for children who are habitually resident in the UK.
	If a person with care lives abroad, whether within or outside of the European Union, the Child Support Agency has no jurisdiction. In these circumstances, the parties involved may decide between themselves to continue with the amount previously calculated by the Child Support Agency but the agency would not be involved in the process and would have no enforcement powers.
	Alternatively the person with care or the non-resident parent can apply through the courts. The courts have reciprocal arrangements with more than 100 countries and territories that may allow a person living in one jurisdiction to claim maintenance from an ex-partner living in the other.

Departmental Expenditure

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much money was spent by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies on (i) electricity use and (ii) water and sewerage in each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Expenditure for electricity and water and sewerage services for the Department since it came into being in 2001, including all its agencies, is given in the following table.
	
		Departmental expenditure -- £
		
			  Electricity Water Sewerage 
		
		
			 2001–02 10,097,555 1,403,739 1,853,059 
			 2002–03 11,394,575 1,527,770 1,893,489 
			 2003–04 15,075729 1,052,435 2,663,058 
			 2004–05 17,274,089 1,265,659 3,187,004

Disability Discrimination Act

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the examination boards on the implications of the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1975 on students with hearing and speech problems with particular reference to their ability to take GCSE French;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to encourage examination bodies to ensure that students with hearing and speech problems are accommodated in GCSE French examinations from 2006.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	I have not held any meetings with the examination boards on this issue. However, my officials have held meetings with representatives of the Awarding Bodies, the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and the Regulators. It has been agreed that the criteria for modern foreign language GCSE qualifications will be reviewed and that disability groups will be invited to participate in the review. Students with hearing and speech problems will continue to be able to access GCSE French examinations in 2006.
	The Awarding Bodies and the Regulators will be looking carefully at future access arrangements in the light of the extension of the Disability Discrimination Act to general qualification bodies.

Employment and Income (Forest of Dean)

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of levels of (a) employment and (b) income in Forest of Dean constituency; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Harper, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment and income in the Forest of Dean Constituency. (15845)
	Over the 12-month period ending in December 2004, it is estimated that there were, on average, 40,000 people aged 16 and over resident in the Forest of Dean Constituency in employment.
	This estimate is based on Annual Population Survey data which, as with any statistical sample survey, is subject to sampling variability.
	The data are published on the Office for National Statistics Nomis(r) website at: www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	HM Revenue and Customs estimate that the average taxable income of taxpayers, resident in the Forest of Dean Constituency, for 2002–03, was £20,000.
	Estimates are published on the HM Revenue and Customs website at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/income_distribution/table-3–15.xls

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason pension funds for which the employer is solvent but winds up the scheme without funding it beyond the Minimum Funding Requirement are excluded from the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Stephen Timms: Solvent employers have a duty to support their schemes and provide the benefits members were expecting. Assistance funded by the taxpayer is not appropriate in cases where there is a solvent sponsoring employer.

GCSE Foreign Languages

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many students were exempt from the oral section of GCSE foreign language examinations due to a disability in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of students exempt from the oral section of GCSE foreign language examinations due to a disability in each of the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			  OCR AQA EDEXCEL Wales Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 2001 5 (61)— (61)— 0 0 
			 2002 3 (61)— (61)— 1 0 
			 2003 0 36 (61)— 2 0 
			 2004 6 51 (61)— 2 0 
			 2005 2 22 4 1 0 
		
	
	(61)No data available
	This data has been supplied by the awarding bodies.

Incapacity Benefit

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Doncaster, North constituency are in receipt of incapacity benefit.

Anne McGuire: As at February 2005 there were 5,900 incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants in Doncaster North.

Incapacity Benefit

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women received incapacity benefit in the Elmet constituency in the last period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: As at February 2005 there were 1,600 men and 1,200 women claiming incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance in the Elmet constituency.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are receiving industrial injuries disablement benefit; and how many are in Pembrokeshire.

Margaret Hodge: As at December 2004 there were 340,810 people in Great Britain receiving industrial injuries disablement benefit, including 575 in the Pembrokeshire local authority area.

Jobcentre Plus

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the recommendation by the Select Committee on Work and Pensions in February that Jobcentre Plus staff cuts should be postponed until delays caused by technology and problems with service quality are overcome.

Margaret Hodge: The Work and Pensions Select Committee has not made any recommendations about postponing staff reductions in Jobcentre Plus.
	The departmental efficiency challenge is under constant scrutiny through a system of steering committees, programme boards and gates and the Office of Government Commerce Gateway reviews. These mechanisms, in addition to the detailed planning and monitoring processes, provide an appropriate platform to manage risks to the programme and its constituent parts.

Local Government Pensions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the financial position of Forest of Dean district council pension scheme.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Forest of Dean district council is an employer member of the Local Government Pension Scheme as administered by Gloucestershire county council. When carrying out actuarial valuations of individual funds, each actuary sets individual contribution rates for each employers' liabilities and their own work forces, balanced against the overall performance of the fund. At the time of the 2004 valuation, the Gloucestershire county council pension fund had overall assets to meet 70 per cent. of its liabilities. Forest of Dean district council have chosen to phase the increase in its contribution rate over three years and the pension fund's actuary has set an employer contribution rate of 14.9 per cent. (2006), 17.2 per cent. (2007) and 19.5 per cent. (2008) of pensionable payroll as part of a process to secure the county council's pension fund's ongoing solvency.

Operation Gangmaster

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many investigations into second stage processing have been carried out by Operation Gangmaster since its establishment;
	(2)  how many labour providers operating in second stage processing have been (a) investigated, (b) arrested and charged for breaches of the law and (c) convicted for offences under Operation Gangmaster since its establishment;
	(3)  what assessment has been undertaken of Operation Gangmaster since the introduction of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004; and what plans there are to make further such assessments.

James Plaskitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave on 14 July 2005, Official Report, column 1269W.

Operation Gangmaster

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the progress of Operation Gangmaster since the introduction of the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004.

James Plaskitt: Operation Gangmaster is one of a number of cross Government initiatives which DWP actively supports. In addition to Operation Gangmaster the Department has supported the setting up of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and will provide support for the Joint Workplace Enforcement Pilot, a cross Government initiative aimed at tackling exploitation of labour in the West Midlands.
	Operation Gangmaster facilitates the exchange of cross Government intelligence to complement the routine enforcement action taken by individual Departments.

Pension Credit

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been unclaimed in pension credits in each year since they were introduced.

James Plaskitt: The information is not yet available. Latest estimates of the average amount of minimum income guarantee (MIG) unclaimed by male and female pensioners can be found in the Department's report 'Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-Up in 2002–03', which is available in the Library. Estimates of take-up in 2003–04 will cover the first six months of pension credit and are expected to be released by the end of 2005. MIG was replaced by pension credit from 6 October 2003.

Pensioners

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many state retirement pensioners there are in Doncaster, North.

Stephen Timms: The number of state pension recipients in the parliamentary constituency of Doncaster, North as at 30 September 2004 was 16,100.
	Notes:
	1.Figure is rounded to the nearest hundred. 2.Figure is based on a five per cent. sample and is therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation. 3.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant Office for National Statistics postcode directory.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, five per cent. sample.

Pensions

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to (a) enable women to build up their own entitlement to a pension, (b) encourage the provision of private and occupational pensions that work more effectively for women and (c) tackle the inequalities and pensions provision which affect women.

James Plaskitt: To enable women to build up their own entitlement to a pension, we have introduced state second pension which means that women are now just as likely as men to be accruing second-tier state pension rights. The national minimum wage has boosted the earnings of female low earners, enabling more women to start building up state pensions. Separating the primary threshold level from the lower earnings limit means that many low earners are now building up basic and state second pension rights without having to pay contributions.
	To encourage the provision of private and occupational pensions that work for women, we introduced part-time workers regulations which ensure that terms and conditions of employment, including those related to access to occupational pension schemes, do not discriminate against part-time workers. We have also introduced stakeholder pensions to offer a low-cost, portable and flexible pension option which can be particularly suitable for women taking career breaks. Measures in the Pensions Act 2004, such as new rules to increase the pension rights of early leavers, are also beneficial to women.
	To tackle the inequalities in pension provision which affect women pensioners today, pension credit and other tax and benefit changes have lifted 1.3 million women out of poverty. Fair outcomes for women and carers is one of our principles for future reform, and will be one of the criteria on which any proposals will be judged. As part of the wider national pensions debate an event focussing on women and pensions will be held and a report discussing the issue will be published later in the year.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 11 July 2005, Official Report, column 682W, on pension scheme records, what requirement there is on former trustees to maintain records of schemes which have been wound up.

James Plaskitt: Under pensions legislation there is no requirement for trustees to maintain records after a pension scheme has been wound up. At that point the trustees cease to become trustees of the scheme.
	However, tax regulations require the trustees of an approved occupational pension scheme to keep signed scheme accounts, signed actuarial valuation reports and records of major transactions for six years, irrespective of whether the scheme winds up during this period.

PFI

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of (a) the sustainability and environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects and (b) the effectiveness of the PFI process in delivering environmentally sustainable projects;
	(2)  what role his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to make the private finance initiative (i) process and (ii) contracts more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability in his Department;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage.

James Plaskitt: Under the Private Finance Initiative, the estate of the former DSS, was transferred to the private sector in April 1998 for the provision of fully serviced accommodation. Following the formation of the Department for Work and Pensions, the estate of the former employment service became subject to the same partnership contract (known as PRIME) in December 2003. Within the contract, there are specific clauses that cover environmental impacts, and encourage the private sector partner to develop environmental improvements The Department's Estates partner—Land Securities Trillium, whose Environmental Management System is accredited to International Standard ISO 14001, works closely with the DWP corporate Sustainable Development Team to identify opportunities for environmental improvements. The Sustainable Development Team contract manages this element of the partnership, and continually assesses performance. Regular partnership meetings are held between the Department and Land Securities Trillium to monitor progress.
	The partnership approach has enabled innovative measures to be developed—such as the use of spend to save projects designed to improve energy and water efficiency across the estate, and a programme to maximise the recycling of paper waste. Full details of all measures can be found within the annual DWP Sustainable Development Report, to which Land Securities Trillium make a full contribution.
	The current departmental approvals process includes sustainable development as an overarching commitment that all change programmes need to incorporate into their plans. This will ensure that any future Private Finance Initiatives include sustainable development issues, as PRIME successfully did, from the outset.

Policy Costings

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what costings of (a) Liberal Democrat and (b) Conservative party policies his Department has (i) undertaken, (ii) co-ordinated in the previous 12 months and (iii) advised upon in the previous 12 months.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1334W.

Private Finance Projects

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1076W, on private finance projects, what the total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is that are recorded on the Government balance sheet.

Margaret Hodge: An on-balance sheet private finance initiative contract is held with ICB Ltd. by Health and Safety Laboratories for the provision of serviced accommodation and support functions. The contract was undertaken on 28 October 2004 for a period of 32 years and 29 weeks.
	As at 31 March 2005, the following amounts were the assets, prepayments and liabilities held on the Department for Work and Pensions' balance sheet:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Fixed Assets  
			 Land and Buildings 57.267 
			 Furniture and Fittings 2.453 
			   
			 Prepayment  
			 Due within 1 year 0.154 
			 Due after 1 year 4.383 
			   
			 Liabilities  
			 Due after 1 year 57.607 
		
	
	These figures are subject to audit. There were no on-balance sheet contracts held prior to October 2004.

Race Relations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Anne McGuire: Governance processes established across the whole Department ensure that progress is reported and measured on a regular basis. A Diversity and Equality Steering Group meets regularly and is made up of senior civil servants and representatives from across the Department. The group is responsible for agreeing and directing action and priorities across DWP. To support this work, each operational area within DWP has its own action plan and governance arrangement. DWP has published a Race Equality Scheme which sets out our progress to date and priorities for the future. DWP publishes a summary of progress annually and reviews the entire scheme once every three years.'
	DWP is responsible for 15 non-departmental public and independent statutory bodies. Three of these associated bodies are subject to both the general and specific duties of the Act with regards to race equality. They are the Disability Rights Commission, the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. Consequently, this means they have a legislative requirement to publish their own schemes.
	The remaining bodies, while not being formally subject to any duties under the Act, have set out statements of intent within the Department's Race Equality Scheme.
	The functions of two of these bodies are linked closely with those of two of the Department's agencies and their functions are included in their race equality schemes. Remploy's functions are included in the Jobcentre Plus Race Equality Scheme and those of the Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board are covered by the Disability and Carers Service Race Equality Scheme.

Recycling

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by the Department in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post consumer waste this paper contained.

James Plaskitt: Details of the percentage of paper for copying and printed publications that was from recycled sources and how much post consumer waste they contained are as follows:
	In 2003–04 2,149,853 reams of copier paper were purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. Of this 5.3 per cent. was recycled paper. In 2004–05 1,908,633 reams of copier paper were purchased by the Department for Work and Pensions. Of this 10.85 per cent. was recycled paper.
	Recycled copier paper on the Department for Work and Pensions Stationery Framework Agreement contains a minimum of 80 per cent. post consumer waste, however, papers containing 100 per cent. post consumer waste are also available.
	Paper for printed publications
	In 2003–04 5,164 metric tonnes of paper were purchased for printed publications. Of this 41 per cent. met the 75 per cent. recycled fibre content specification. Information for 2004–05 is not yet available, although a report will be provided within the next annual DWP sustainable development report due to be published in November. From January 2006 the Department will move to using 100 per cent. recycled paper for its printed publications.

Recycling

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list his Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled and post consumer recycled content of each paper.

James Plaskitt: The information is as follows.
	Copier Paper:
	Banner Business Supplies
	Office Depot
	The Paper Company
	Glenmore
	Premier Paper
	Recycled Paper used to date:
	Evolve Office 100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. pcw
	Niceday 3500 100 per cent. recycled, 80 per cent. pcw
	Xerox Recycled 100 per cent. recycled, 100 per cent. pcw.
	From 1 September 2005 the sole supplier will be Banner Business Supplies.
	Stationery
	Edwin Buckley and Co. Ltd.
	Trafford Print Colour Ltd.
	Printed stationery has no recycled content.
	Envelopes
	Banner Business Supplies 100 per cent. recycled buff manila 80gsm
	Reports
	New Town
	Astron
	Sandy Press
	Belmont Press
	During 2003–04, of the total volume of paper purchased for printed materials (5,164 metric tonnes) 41 per cent. met the 75 per cent. recycled content specification contained within the Government Quick Wins". Figures are not yet available for 2004–05—however from January 2006 the Department will be using only recycled paper (100 per cent. post consumer waste).

SMS2

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the introduction of the SMS2 system on staff and customers.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Bob Laxton, dated 10 October 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning what assessment has been made of the impact of the introduction of the SMS2 IT system on staff and customers. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	May I assume that when referring to SMS2 that you are referring to the Customer Management System (CMS). CMS2 is the IT system that has been implemented to support a number of changes in the way that our customers claim benefits through Jobcentre Plus. These changes are part of a wider programme of service delivery modernisation in Jobcentre Plus that also include, for example, greater use of telephone based contact with our customers and the adoption of standard operating processes.
	The impact of CMS is part of a wider assessment of Jobcentre Plus modernisation activity and investment. This will be taken forward as part of the annual review of the Jobcentre Plus Integrated Business Case. This review takes place during Spring 2006 and reports formally to Ministers and the Treasury. We are currently working towards a first assessment of CMS to inform the 2006 review of the Jobcentre Plus Integrated Business Case, and this assessment will include a staff survey, currently scheduled for early 2006.
	Customer feedback on our services is gained through the Jobcentre Plus National Customer Satisfaction Surveys, and the results of the 2004 survey were published on 30th September 2004. The 2005 survey commenced in September. The surveys give us a clear picture about how our services are perceived by customers, including how well delivered they are, and how easy or difficult they are to access. However, as these surveys are based on a national sample, of 3000 or so customers, and CMS is still in the process of being deployed on a roll out basis across Jobcentre Plus, the 2005 survey may be too soon to fully capture the impact on customers.
	I hope this is helpful.

Sustainable Development

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the environmental impact against sustainable development criteria of bids made for contracts awarded by his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Procurement Reference Manual provides staff in the Department for Work and Pensions with guidance on how to incorporate sustainability issues within the procurement process. It is our policy to specify sustainable goods and services. The environmental impacts of any contract should be considered during the initial stages of a tender exercise—and sustainability criteria are therefore built into the specification. All bids received are considered against this sustainable specification.

Sustainable Development

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to provide the delivery of sustainable development within Government.

James Plaskitt: The Department for Work and Pensions has a Sustainable Development Steering Group made up of senior members of each of its client groups and businesses who are responsible for driving and monitoring progress, and a dedicated corporate Sustainable Development Team which provides guidance and oversees delivery.
	The Department publishes an annual Sustainable Development Report that reports on progress on the targets within the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.
	The Department will publish a Sustainable Development Action Plan in December 2005 demonstrating how it will meet the commitments within the UK Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Sustainable Development

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps have been taken by his Department to review its arrangements for public reporting of sustainable development impacts.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions has published a separate annual report on sustainable development since November 2001 and these are available in the Library. The Department is committed to the continued annual publication of this comprehensive report.

Sustainable Development

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements his Department has made to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions produces an annual report on its sustainable development impacts which is available in the Library The report is available to the public via the Department's internet site, although a hard copy can be provided upon request. The report contains information on progress on the targets contained within the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate" and also the consequences of thewider social impacts of the Department's operations.

Unemployment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of people in Dudley, North were unemployed in each year since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the change in the amount of benefits paid as a result of the change in unemployment levels.

Stephen Timms: Information on the change in the amount paid in benefits due to the change in employment since 1997 is not available at constituency level. In Great Britain it is estimated that, compared to 1996–97, we are now spending £4.5 billion a year less on the cost of unemployment related benefits as a result of the increase in employment levels.
	Information on unemployment in Dudley, North constituency is in the table.
	
		Unemployment in Dudley, North constituency
		
			   Number of people Proportion of working age population 
		
		
			 1997 2,892 5.4 
			 1998 2,315 4.3 
			 1999 2,614 4.9 
			 2000 2,448 4.6 
			 2001 2,197 4.1 
			 2002 2,155 4.0 
			 2003 2,098 3.9 
			 2004 1,902 3.6 
			 2005 2,074 3.9 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are claimant count for June of each year.
	Source:
	DWP statistics.

Unemployment Benefit

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of providing unemployment benefits for adults who have previously been in care in the last year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.

Vehicle Emissions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what change there has been in (a) road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions and (b) incidence of single occupancy car commuting in his Department since (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05.

James Plaskitt: The following table gives figures for road transport vehicle carbon emissions:
	
		Vehicle emissions
		
			  Kg CO 2 Reduction (percentage) 
		
		
			 2003–04 20,191,096 — 
			 2004–05 14,895,328 26 
		
	
	The Department measures and reports on CO 2 emissions for road transport vehicles as its contribution to target B1 of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate". During 2004–05 changes have been made to improve the data collected to measure progress against this target, as well as to the calculation methodology.
	The Department has already stated its intention not to gather information on single occupancy car commuting for target B3 of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate" as this would be excessively resource intensive, given the size of the estate—there are currently 117,000 staff located across 1,700 sites. The Department continues to encourage the use of Green Travel.

Watermark Project

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has joined the Watermark project.

James Plaskitt: Prior to the formation of the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Social Security joined the Watermark project. The Watermark project ended in March 2003.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated by accident and emergency departments in (a) Essex, (b) the Southend-on-Sea Hospital Trust and (c) the Basildon Hospital Trust in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The number of attendances at accident and emergency departments, minor injury units and walk in centres within the Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Quarter Essex SHA Southend Hospital National Health Service Trust Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 
		
		
			 2005–06 1 137,404 21,889 25,392 
			 2004–05 4 129,379 20,451 24,721 
			 2004–05 3 125,428 20,029 25,366 
			 2004–05 2 128,462 21,028 24,767 
			 Total — 520,673 83,397 100,246 
		
	
	Source:
	Foundation Trust.

Acute Hospitals

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the proportion of patients in acute hospitals who (a) have written care plans and (b) are allocated a named nurse; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Data are not collected for either the number of patients with written care plans nor the number of patients with a named nurse.
	All patients should have a written care plan and be allocated a named nurse when they are admitted to hospital.

Aimspro

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many multiple sclerosis sufferers have been treated with Aimspro on a trial basis; and what assessment has been made of the effects;
	(2)  for what reasons the manufacturers of Aimspro have recently been instructed to stop supplying the drug to multiple sclerosis sufferers; and what assessment has been made of the effects;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the numbers of (a) multiple sclerosis sufferers waiting to use and (b) prescribing general practitioners waiting to prescribe Aimspro;
	(4)  if she will take urgent steps to resolve the issues which have led to the withdrawal of Aimspro from multiple sclerosis sufferers who have been receiving it on a trial basis.

Jane Kennedy: Twelve patients entered an authorised clinical trial at an Oxford hospital, although one of these dropped out before completion. A number of patients were recruited into an authorised clinical trial at a London hospital, but the trial was halted with only one patient completed. No other authorised clinical trials of Aimspro have been conducted in the United Kingdom.
	The Oxford trial examined the effectiveness of Aimspro in visual impairment associated with optic neuritis. The trial failed in its primary and secondary endpoints, but showed some apparent improvement in peripheral vision. However, the effect was not significantly different to placebo. The results do not support Daval International's claim of dramatic improvement".
	The manufacture and supply of Aimspro is subject to the manufacturer holding the necessary manufacturing authorisation issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and supported by the MHRA's medicines inspectorate.
	No instructions have been issued to the manufacturers of Aimspro to stop supplying the drug. None of the product is currently available because the nominated manufacturer is not able to manufacture the product to acceptable standards and remains unlicensed.
	No data are available to inform an assessment of the effects resulting from the non-availability of Aimspro.
	There are approximately 85,000 multiple sclerosis sufferers in the UK. The Department has no knowledge of the number of those who are waiting to use Aimspro nor of the number of prescribing general practitioners waiting to prescribe Aimspro.
	The MHRA has provided Daval International and its nominated contract manufacturer with a considerable amount of help and advice since early 2005 concerning the manufacture of Aimspro. The nominated manufacturer is not currently able to manufacture the product to acceptable standards and remains unlicensed. The MHRA has advised Daval on the use of alternative licensed manufacturers and continues to liaise closely with the company regarding manufacturing and supply issues.The speed with which the product can be made available for use in clinical trials or for supply on a named-patient basis is dependent on the progress that Daval and the manufacturer of Aimspro wish to make.

Ambulance Response Times

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average response time of the ambulance service to emergency calls from locations in each London borough was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Brent East (Sarah Teather) on 30 June 2005, Official Report, column 1750W.

Avian Flu

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) advice and (b) resources her Department is giving to London health authorities to prepare for a potential avian influenza epidemic; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department has published operational guidance for the national health service, entitled Influenza Pandemic Contingency Planning: Operational Guidance for Health Service Planners", to help inform planning in NHS organisations. In addition, the Department has tasked the Health Protection Agency to produce infection control guidance and clinical management protocols, which will help NHS in planning effectively. These will be available in the next few months. Further guidance and information is available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu
	Planning for emergencies is a core task for NHS bodies. The Government are purchasing 14.6 million courses of antivirals for the NHS to use in treating cases of pandemic influenza and has recently invited manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply a limited amount of vaccine against the H5N1 avian influenza. This vaccine could offer some protection against a H5N1 influenza strain and could be used to support the NHS response.

Blood Donation (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthhow many people from Castle Point have given blood in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The number of blood donors in the Castle Point area is not held centrally. However, the National Blood Service has data for the number of active blood donors for the Anglia region, of which Castle Point is a part, and the total number of collections made in the Anglia region over the last five years, which is shown in the table.
	
		Anglia region
		
			  Average size of active donor base  Total collections 
		
		
			 2001–02 194,447 283,375 
			 2002–03 186,633 275,115 
			 2003–04 177,152 272,232 
			 2004–05 171,003 256,586

Carers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number ofcarers who have received an assessment of their needs.

Liam Byrne: In 2003–04, an estimated 348,000 carers received a carers assessment or review during the year in England, either separately or jointly with the client. Around 70,000 of these carers were assessed or reviewed separately.

Community Pharmacies (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community pharmacies in Castle Point have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of community pharmacies by constituency is not centrally collected. However, information prior to 2002 is available by health authority (HA) and from 2002, by primary care trust (PCT).
	Castle Point constituency is currently served by Castle Point and Rochford PCT and previously sat within the South Essex HA.
	In 2001–02, South Essex HA had a total of 141 community pharmacies. The HA comprised the following areas:
	Billiercay
	Brentwood
	Wickford
	Southend-on-Sea
	Thurrock
	Basildon
	Castle Point
	Rochford
	Table 1 shows the number of community pharmacies by HA prior to 2002. Table 2 shows the number of community pharmacies by PCT from 2002 onwards.
	
		Table 1: By HA—1997 to 2002
		
			  Total number of pharmacies in South Essex HA Opened Closed 
		
		
			 1997–98 146 0 0 
			 1998–99 146 0 0 
			 1999–2000 144 0 2 
			 2000–01 143 0 1 
			 2001–02 141 0 2 
		
	
	
		Table 2: By PCT—2002 to 2004
		
			  Total number of pharmacies in Castle Point and Rochford PCT Opened Closed 
		
		
			 2002–03 32 0 0 
			 2003–04 32 0 0

Continuing Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which stakeholders have been consulted in the development of the proposed new framework for continuing care funding.

Liam Byrne: Work to produce the national framework for continuing care is ongoing, as is stakeholder communication, engagement and involvement.
	My hon. Friend the Member for South Thanet (Dr.Ladyman) met with the ombudsman specifically to discuss continuing care, and the subject will have come up in numerous visits and meetings. I have met with local authority representatives and also with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the General Social Care Council and Turning Point, when the subject of continuing care was raised.
	Officials have studied the evidence given to the Health Select Committee inquiry on continuing care. Regular meetings take place with staff from the ombudsman's office to ensure their full participation and involvement in the development of the national framework.
	Officials held three national meetings on continuing care; on 17 December 2004, 19 January 2005 and 4 March 2005 to start to scope the issues that the national framework is to address and gather suggestions for ways forward. These meetings were attended by representatives from the ombudsman's office and representatives from strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and local authorities including representatives from the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS).
	Meetings and/or discussions have also occurred with numerous organisations, members of the public, researchers and academics, including the Royal College of Nursing, Help the Aged, Age Concern, the Alzheimer's Society and the Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance.
	Officials have also had contact with these bodies, and with many other voluntary organisations and professional bodies including the English Community Care Association, Leonard Cheshire, Carers UK, POhWER, the British Medical Association, the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service, the ADSS and the LGA, Radar, Headway, the Neurological Alliance, Scope, the National Care Forum, the National Centre for Independent Living, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations and the National Care Homes Association. Many of these attended the stakeholder summit that was held on 21 July to share progress, and to gain contributions in from organisations with patients and service users, carer networks and professional organisations.
	An electronic discussion forum has been established for regular communication and through which staff from across the health and social care community and wider stakeholder groups can contribute to specific parts of the framework.

Deaf/Blind Disabilities

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what services are available for those with deafblind disabilities within Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what intervenor services are supplied specifically to children affected with deafblind or similar disabilitieswithin Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service dental hygienists there are in each London borough.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dentistry

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources she has allocated to the pilots for the new NHS dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: Personal dental services (PDS) pilots, on which the proposed new contractual arrangements for national health service dentists from April 2006 are closely based, have been running in phases since 1998. PDS pilot schemes now cover over 30 per cent. of dentists. In 2004–05, the Department allocated some £261 million to primary care trusts (PCTs) to fund the services provided by these schemes.
	Following the publication of Options For Change in 2002, the NHS Modernisation Agency set up 48 field sites to test models for new ways of working and identify key lessons for the future. In addition to funding for the dental services provided in these sites, host PCTs received £405,000 to facilitate the sites and cover any additional expenses incurred.

Dentistry

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pilots are taking place for the new NHS dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: As of 31 August 2005, 2,373 dental practices were working as dental pilots under personal dental services (PDS) agreements. Of these, 210 were field sites set up under the National Health Service Modernisation Agency to develop the new ways of working. Learning from all the PDS sites has been taken on board in developing the new contractual arrangements that are being put in place for 1 April 2006.

Dentistry

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what limit she has set on the number of new patients an individual dental practice can take as part of the pilots for the new NHS dental contract.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not set a limit on the number of additional national health service patients a practice maybe contracted to look after as part of a pilot personal dental service arrangement. Thenumber of additional patients will depend upon theindividual circumstances of the practice and the proposed pilot arrangements.

Dentistry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices in Castle Point have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: As at 31 August 2005, there were 13 dental surgeries within Castle Point parliamentary constituency. Of these, one had opened since 31 August 1997. No dental surgeries have closed within this area in the same time period.

Dentistry

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of an NHS dental check-up in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The cost for a national health service dental check-up, defined in the Statement of Dental Remuneration as clinical examination, advice, charting—including monitoring of periodontal status—and report, is fixed across England.
	This cost is set by the Department and changes each year, usually in April. However, in both December 1997 and December 1998, there were changes made to costs.
	The dentist fees and patient charges, which are charged at 80 per cent. of dentists fees, since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			   Date   Dentist fees Patients charge (80 per cent. of dentist fees) 
		
		
			 April 1997 5.30 4.24 
			 December 1997 5.40 4.32 
			 April 1998 5.65 4.52 
			 December 1998 5.80 4.64 
			 April 1999 5.95 4.76 
			 April 2000 6.15 4.92 
			 April 2001 6.40 5.12 
			 April 2002 6.65 5.32 
			 April 2003 6.85 5.48 
			 April 2004 7.05 5.64 
			 April 2005 7.30 5.84

Dentistry

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are registered with an NHS dentist in England, broken down by local authority area.

Rosie Winterton: Figures for 31 August 2005 have been placed in the Library.

Dentistry

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of a national health service dental check-up in Southend in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The cost for a national health service dental check-up, defined as clinical examination, advice, charting (including monitoring of periodontal status) and report", in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, is fixed across England. This cost is set by the Department and changes each year, usually in April. However, in January 1994, December 1996, 1997, 1998 there were also changes made to costs.
	The dentist fees and patient charges (80 per cent. of fee) since 1994 are shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			 Date Dentist fee Patient charge 
		
		
			 January 1994 4.75 3.80 
			 April 1994 4.90 3.92 
			 April 1995 5.00 4.00 
			 April 1996 5.15 4.12 
			 December 1996 5.20 4.16 
			 April 1997 5.30 4.24 
			 December 1997 5.40 4.32 
			 April 1998 5.65 4.52 
			 December 1998 5.80 4.64 
			 April 1999 5.95 4.76 
			 April 2000 6.15 4.92 
			 April 2001 6.40 5.12 
			 April 2002 6.65 5.32 
			 April 2003 6.85 5.48 
			 April 2004 7.05 5.64 
			 April 2005 7.30 5.84 
		
	
	Note:
	Some adult patients (around 25 per cent.) and all children are exempt from charges.

Dentistry

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the staffing level against establishment in the dental workforce in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The number of dentists over the past year are shown in the table.
	
		General dental services (CDS) and personal dental services (PDS): number of dentists in the GDS or PDS in the specified areas
		
			   Essex Strategic Health Authority Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust 
		
		
			 June 2004 591 50 
			 September 2004 597 52 
			 December 2004 602 53 
			 March 2005 621 56 
			 June 2005 646 60

Dentistry

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service dentists there are in each London borough.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of dentists with open general dental services (CDS) or personal dental services (PDS) contracts in London local authorities as at 31 August 2005.
	
		CDS and PDS: Numbers of dentists in London local authorities (LAs) as at 31 August 2005
		
			 LA area Number 
		
		
			 City of London 13 
			 Barking and Dagenham 65 
			 Barnet 212 
			 Bexley 100 
			 Brent 178 
			 Bromley 173 
			 Camden 175 
			 Croydon 215 
			 Ealing 214 
			 Enfield 168 
			 Greenwich 122 
			 Hackney 84 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 155 
			 Haringey 144 
			 Harrow 134 
			 Havering 127 
			 Hillingdon 137 
			 Hounslow 151 
			 Islington 133 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 96 
			 Kingston upon Thames 82 
			 Lambeth 151 
			 Lewisham 132 
			 Merton 111 
			 Newham 112 
			 Redbridge 153 
			 Richmond upon Thames 112 
			 Southwark 111 
			 Sutton 109 
			 Tower Hamlets 99 
			 Waltham Forest 115 
			 Wandsworth 173 
			 Westminster 205 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open GDS or PDS contracts.
	2.The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	3.Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis.
	4.The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the specified area.
	5.The figures provide a snapshot of the number of individual dentists with an open contract at 31 August.
	6.A dentist with a GDS or PDS contract may provide as little or as much national health service treatment as he or she chooses or has agreed with the primary care trust.
	7.The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	8.The figures take into account any notifications received up to 15 September 2005.
	9.Areas have been defined using the Office of National Statistics all fields postcode directory—February 2005.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Dentistry

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been registered with an NHS dentist in each primary care trust in England in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05.

Rosie Winterton: Registration data have been placed in the Library. Data for 2003 and 2004 include personal dental service counts of patients seen in the past 15 months as a proxy for registrations for some schemes. This is to give greater consistency with registrations data for the general dental service, which has a 15 month re-registration period. Many personal dental service schemes use longer periods and some, such as dental access centres, do not require patients to register.

Departmental Buildings

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total floor space area is of buildings owned or leased by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies.

Jane Kennedy: The Department and its executive agencies occupy two freehold properties comprising 23,217.8 square metres (m 2 ) both occupied by the Department; and 25 leased properties comprising 48,268.02m 2 occupied by the Department and 17,641.10m 2 occupied by its agencies.

Departmental Conferences

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Department spent on organising or sponsoring conferences for each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to her Department.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department awards all contracts in line with the United Kingdom's objective of achieving value for money and in line with European Union Treaty obligations on transparency and free movement of goods and services.

Departmental Expenditure

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual expenditure was by (a) her Department and (b) its agencies on (i) electricity and (ii) water and sewerage services in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Costs for the Department's London estate are shown in the tables.
	
		£
		
			  Electricity Water and sewerage 
		
		
			 1997–98 615,007 36,396 
			 1998–99 614,783 33,614 
			 1999–2000 634,859 32,607 
			 2000–01 545,079 32,224 
			 2001–02 579,102 29,009 
			 2002–03 551,938 34,684 
			 2003–04 572,782 29,372 
			 2004–05 695,834 30,689 
		
	
	London staff of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) occupy buildings where the utilities are included within the service charge. Figures for electricity costs only are available as shown in the tables.
	
		£
		
			  Electricity 
		
		
			 1997–98 58,654 
			 1998–99 53,124 
			 1999–2000 48,124 
			 2000–01 49,219 
			 2001–02 53,689 
			 2002–03 50,382 
			 2003–04 57,855 
			 2004–05 63,864 
		
	
	The National Health Service Purchasing and Supplies Authority (NHS PASA) became an agency of the Department in April 2000. Figures for the years following are shown in the tables.
	
		£
		
			  Electricity Water and sewerage 
		
		
			 2000–01 23,591 3,704 
			 2001–02 32,901 2,576 
			 2002–03 38,570 2,476 
			 2003–04 30,122 2,292 
			 2004–05 39,404 2,118 
		
	
	The activities of the NHS Pensions Agency transferred from the Department to the NHS with effect from 1 April 2004. Figures for previous years are shown in the table.
	
		£
		
			  Electricity Water and sewerage 
		
		
			 1997–98 60,554 26,237 
			 1998–99 61,333 27,459 
			 1999–2000 55,326 30,675 
			 2000–01 50,678 13,542 
			 2001–02 52,919 23,026 
			 2002–03 46,787 24,218 
			 2003–04 56,309 27,003 
		
	
	The NHS Estates Agency occupied rented office space in Leeds city centre, where its energy and water costs were included in the service charge.

Departmental Procurement

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether her Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will list her Department's refurbishment projects that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal and sustainable sources; and if she will issue guidance to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on-site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Jane Kennedy: Refurbishment of the Department's offices in Wellington House is the only current project and no further projects are planned for the next six months.
	Instructions issued to building contractors as part of the contract documentation require that all timber and timber products are procured in accordance with current Government guidance and that the relevant documentary evidence is available.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the websites that come under her Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Jane Kennedy: To identify the costs and the number of visitors to each agency and non-departmental public body website associated with the Department, which are not all directly operated by the Department, would incur disproportionate costs. However, the available information about the Department's corporate website and each of the Department's Executive agencies' websites is listed as follows.
	Department of Health—www.dh.gov.uk.
	The cost of the Department's corporate website and the sub domain sites listed below for the year 2004–05 was £724,956. These figures include hosting and maintenance, development and dedicated staff costs, using agreed civil service staff costs including salaries, common services, etc.
	The total number of visits to the main Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk for the period April 2004 to March 2005 was 14,541,987 There were on average 720,326 unique users per month.
	In addition to the main corporate website, the Department has a number of sub domain sites. The number of visits to these sites is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Sub domain name Number of visits (April 2004–March 2005) 
		
		
			 www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk 504,100 
			 www.performance.doh.gov.uk 619,416 
			 www.publications.doh.gov.uk 1,362,829 
			 www.info.doh.gov.uk 2,607,266 
		
	
	The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA)—www.pasa.doh.gov.uk.
	The NHS PASA was established on 1 April 2000.
	The website received 406,000 visits between July 2004 and June 2005. The costs for this period were £86,000.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency—www.mhra.gov.uk.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) replaced the Medical Devices Agency and the Medicines Control Agency on 1 April 2003.
	The website received 1,785,565 visits between July 2004 and June 2005. The MHRA is unable to isolate from overall information technology costs the cost for running the entire site. The cost per annum for the devices section of the site is £24,111 for hosting and £20,000 for staff costs. It is currently completing a major project to redevelop the MHRA website, which is due to be launched in the early autumn.
	NHS Estates—www.nhsestates.gov.uk.
	The NHS Estates website was created in September 2000. From July 2004 to June 2005 the total number of visitors was 251,317. The costs for this period were approximately £50,000.

Diagnostic Scans

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of diagnostic scans in the NHS she expects will be carried out by independent sector providers by 2008;
	(2)  pursuant to her oral answer of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 684, on MRI scans, what factors were taken into consideration when determining that (a) an extra 900,000 MRI scans would be purchased by 2008 and (b) a quarter of scans on the NHS would be carried out by the independent sector.

Liam Byrne: Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are planning for 10.6 per cent. of diagnostic scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging, computerised tomography and ultrasound, in the national health service to be carried out by independent sector (IS) providers by 2007–08. The commitments to expand diagnostics services in the NHS and the IS are based on the outcomes of a departmental coordinated capacity planning exercise with all SHAs in order to reduce waiting times for patients and specifically to increase the diagnostic services required to meet the maximum 18 week waiting time target from referral to treatment promised in the Government's election manifesto.

Diagnostic Scans

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnostic scans were carried out in the Essex Health Authority area in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Data on the total number of diagnostic scans are not centrally available. Data are, however, collected on the number of imaging and radiodiagnostic examinations or tests. The latest data for 2003–04 are available on the Department's website at www.performance.doh.gov.uk/hospitalactivity.

Direct Payments

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many direct payments have been made in each year since their introduction, broken down by local authority.

Liam Byrne: The following table shows the number of adults aged 18 and over receiving direct payments at some point during the year by councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs) in England, for the years 2000–01 to 2003–04. Data for earlier years are not centrally available.
	
		Number of clients receiving direct payments at some point during the year, 2000–01 to 2003–04(62) -- Rounded numbers
		
			 CSSR 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 England(63) 5,000 6,300 9,600 17,000 
			  
			 Barking 10 10 20 30 
			 Barnet 50 50 120 150 
			 Barnsley 40 70 80 40 
			 Bath (64)— (64)— 20 30 
			 Bedfordshire 10 30 40 80 
			 Bexley 10 10 20 40 
			 Birmingham (64)— (64)— (64)— (64)— 
			 Blackburn 0 10 30 40 
			 Blackpool 10 10 40 50 
			 Bolton 10 20 40 100 
			 Bournemouth 50 20 30 40 
			 Bracknell (65)— (65)— (65)— 20 
			 Bradford (64)— 30 40 120 
			 Brent 10 30 20 30 
			 Brighton 10 20 50 50 
			 Bristol 70 80 110 140 
			 Bromley 10 10 10 (64)— 
			 Buckinghamshire 30 30 60 150 
			 Bury 0 20 20 20 
			 Calderdale 10 20 30 30 
			 Cambridgeshire 30 80 150 230 
			 Camden 20 40 90 140 
			 Cheshire 60 100 140 250 
			 City of London 0 0 0 (65)— 
			 Cornwall 40 50 70 460 
			 Coventry (64)— (64)— 180 190 
			 Croydon 20 50 80 140 
			 Cumbria 50 80 150 170 
			 Darlington 10 10 30 50 
			 Derby 30 40 60 130 
			 Derbyshire 70 100 160 220 
			 Devon (65)— 60 90 130 
			 Doncaster (64)— 0 50 80 
			 Dorset 20 30 60 110 
			 Dudley 10 10 10 50 
			 Durham 30 90 160 260 
			 Ealing (65)— 20 30 50 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 0 (65)— 10 50 
			 East Sussex 20 60 100 150 
			 Enfield 10 20 30 70 
			 Essex (64)— (64)— (64)— (64)— 
			 Gateshead 20 30 40 70 
			 Gloucestershire 50 80 100 190 
			 Greenwich 70 90 110 170 
			 Hackney 30 (64)— 30 (64)— 
			 Halton 0 20 40 70 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 30 30 30 50 
			 Hampshire 480 580 660 750 
			 Haringey 0 0 50 80 
			 Harrow 10 20 20 40 
			 Hartlepool (64)— (64)— 10 20 
			 Havering 0 0 (65)— 10 
			 Herefordshire 20 30 50 70 
			 Hertfordshire 80 90 110 200 
			 Hillingdon 830 20 90 100 
			 Hounslow (65)— (65)— 30 80 
			 Isle of Wight 10 10 30 60 
			 Isle of Scilly 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington (65)— 10 10 40 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 20 20 30 40 
			 Kent 40 60 80 310 
			 Kingston upon Hull (65)— 10 10 60 
			 Kingston upon Thames 70 70 80 90 
			 Kirklees 10 30 110 160 
			 Knowsley 10 10 20 50 
			 Lambeth 20 40 60 80 
			 Lancashire 10 40 200 340 
			 Leicester (65)— 60 70 90 
			 Leicestershire 60 60 90 130 
			 Lewisham 30 30 30 40 
			 Lincolnshire (64)— (64)— 70 160 
			 Liverpool 30 50 70 100 
			 Luton (64)— (65)— 20 40 
			 Manchester (64)— (64)— (64)— (64)— 
			 Medway 10 30 40 50 
			 Merton (65)— 10 30 50 
			 Middlesbrough 10 20 30 40 
			 Milton Keynes 10 50 50 70 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne (64)— 30 80 60 
			 Newham (65)— 10 20 40 
			 Norfolk 90 140 210 260 
			 North East Lincolnshire 0 0 30 50 
			 North Lincolnshire 10 10 20 20 
			 North Somerset 20 20 40 60 
			 North Tyneside 30 10 10 20 
			 North Yorkshire 40 170 20 80 
			 Northamptonshire 50 80 80 80 
			 Northumberland (65)— 10 20 40 
			 Nottingham (64)— (64)— 60 80 
			 Nottinghamshire 80 100 170 370 
			 Oldham (65)— 10 40 80 
			 Oxfordshire (64)— (64)— (64)— 170 
			 Peterborough (65)— 10 20 20 
			 Plymouth (65)— (65)— 10 30 
			 Poole 10 20 20 30 
			 Portsmouth 100 90 90 110 
			 Reading (65)— (65)— 10 20 
			 Redbridge (65)— 40 30 50 
			 Redcar (65)— (65)— 30 40 
			 Richmond 20 30 40 70 
			 Rochdale (65)— 20 20 40 
			 Rotherham (65)— 20 20 40 
			 Rutland (65)— (65)— 10 10 
			 Salford (64)— 30 50 70 
			 Sandwell (65)— (65)— 30 130 
			 Sefton 10 30 30 100 
			 Sheffield 0 60 80 100 
			 Shropshire (65)— 70 80 140 
			 Slough (64)— 0 (65)— 10 
			 Solihull 20 20 20 40 
			 Somerset 120 150 190 270 
			 South Gloucestershire 30 40 40 70 
			 South Tyneside (64)— (64)— (64)— (64)— 
			 Southampton 190 200 240 410 
			 Southend 10 10 30 50 
			 Southwark (65)— 30 30 50 
			 St. Helens 0 10 20 70 
			 Staffordshire 10 60 90 160 
			 Stockport 0 0 40 90 
			 Stockton on Tees (65)— 10 30 60 
			 Stoke on Trent 20 20 110 180 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 230 
			 Sunderland (65)— 10 10 170 
			 Surrey (64)— (64)— (64)— (64)— 
			 Sutton 10 10 10 20 
			 Swindon 10 40 40 40 
			 Tameside 20 20 40 160 
			 Telford 10 10 40 50 
			 Thurrock 0 20 20 20 
			 Torbay (65)— 20 30 30 
			 Tower Hamlets (65)— 10 10 40 
			 Trafford 50 30 10 70 
			 Wakefield 0 10 20 60 
			 Walsall (64)— 10 20 30 
			 Waltham Forest 90 70 60 70 
			 Wandsworth 0 10 10 50 
			 Warrington (65)— 30 40 70 
			 Warwickshire 80 90 130 150 
			 West Berkshire (65)— 10 10 30 
			 West Sussex (65)— 170 150 200 
			 Westminster 40 30 50 60 
			 Wigan 20 40 70 110 
			 Wiltshire 80 70 100 170 
			 Windsor 0 0 20 30 
			 Wirral 0 20 40 130 
			 Wokingham 0 (65)— 10 10 
			 Wolverhampton (65)— 10 10 20 
			 Worcestershire (64)— 30 60 280 
			 York 10 (65)— (65)— 30 
		
	
	(62)Data are for adults aged 18 and over.
	(63)England figures contain estimated data.
	(64)Less than six.
	(65)Missing data.
	Source:
	RAP proforma P2f.

Drug Addicts (Hemel Hempstead)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the number of drug addicts in the Hemel Hempstead constituency; and how many are in a treatment programme.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has no estimate of number of drug addicts in the Hemel Hempstead constituency. Data is not collected as to the number of people receiving treatment for drug addiction within Hemel Hempstead. However, in 2003–04, the latest year for which data are available, there were 1,675 in structured drug treatments in Hertfordshire, of which Hemel Hempstead is a part.

Drug Treatment (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) residential and (b) in-patient specialist drug treatment rehabilitation places are available in Essex.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not held centrally in the format requested. However, establishments that provide residential and in-patient specialist drug treatment and rehabilitation are listed as follows:
	Priory Treatment Centre—private facility—provides in-patient treatment and residential rehabilitation.
	The Lea Ward Derwent Centre at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow—provides in-patient treatment.
	The Charles Bowles Institute at Westcliff-on Sea—provides in-patient treatment.
	The Boleyn 1 Ward at Runwell Hosptial, Wickford—provides in-patient treatment.
	Residential rehabilitation services are mostly provided on the basis of a national catchment area and receive clients from across the country. Therefore, Essex clients who are assessed as needing treatment may be sent to residential rehabilitation services in the east of England, or nationwide, according to their choice.

Drug Trials

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many random controlled drug trials her Department has undertaken in each of the last 10years.

Jane Kennedy: The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service; and through the health technology assessment programme funds research into the effectiveness, appropriateness and cost of health treatment and prevention regimes. Over the last 10 years, research projects funded as part of these and other centrally funded programmes have included some 48 randomised controlled trials.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including those classified as randomised controlled trials, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

Drug Trials

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of patients whose health has been adversely affected because they received the placebo during controlled drug trials in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: None. A placebo, in itself, would have no adverse effect and a national health service research ethics committee would be unlikely to approve a trial that denied participants the benefit of standard therapy that in doing so put them at greater than minimal risk.

E111 Scheme

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reform the E111 scheme.

Rosie Winterton: The E111 forms are in the process of being replaced by the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Some member states started issuing EHICs from 1 June 2004. Others, including the United Kingdom, which had no existing card-issuing infrastructure, were given until 31 December 2005 to do so. The UK EHIC will be valid for use elsewhere in the European Economic Area from 1 September. Existing E111s will remain valid until 31 December 2005. There will be further publicity to inform the UK public.

East Midlands Ambulance Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if her Department will take steps to investigate the response times of the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Rosie Winterton: In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power", it is now for primary care trusts (PCTs,) in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to plan, develop and improve services for local people. Within the framework set out in the NHS Plan and other policy documents, PCTs, with their specialised knowledge of the local community, are effectively able to manage and improve local services.

Elderly Patients

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will establish an inquiry into the care of elderly inpatients in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: We have no plans to establish an inquiry into the care of older inpatients. The next steps programme of the older people's national service framework is looking at improving the dignity and privacy of older patients. The project is jointly led at director level by the chief nursing officer and the director of care services and supported by the national clinical director for older people.
	The independent Healthcare Commission scrutinises patient complaints and inspects the clinical governance arrangements that local national health service organisations have in place. All clinical staff are regulated by their appropriate independent licensing body, for example, the Nursing and Midwifery Council for nurses.

Energy Efficiency

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets she has on improving energy efficiency within her Department; and how she intends to achieve these targets.

Jane Kennedy: This Department supports and aims to meet the Government's strategy to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the Government estate. The Department has rationalised and reduced the size of its estate and reduced energy consumption by 10 per cent. relative to 1999–2000.
	The Department has an on-going policy to further improve our energy efficiency year on year. We therefore anticipate meeting the Framework target to reduce our carbon emissions by 12.5 per cent. by 2010–11, relative to 1999–2000.

English Wine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ensure that English wine is made available at dinners, receptions and parties she hosts at which hospitality involving wine is appropriate (a) during the EU presidency and (b) generally; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: English wine will be provided at the dinner for the informal meeting of Health Ministers, as part of the United Kingdom Presidency. We are also working with the Council Secretariat to try to provide British produce, as key ingredients, and drink for all European Union (EU) council meetings during the Presidency.
	All procurement is undertaken in line with the EU's procurement rules and to obtain value for money for the Department but where possible British products are used.

Food Supplements

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department plans to take to ensure companies that sell vitamin and mineral supplements know what products they will continue to be allowed to sell following implementation of the Food Supplements Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency has published a list on its website of substances which can continue to be used in food supplements after 1 August when the European Commission Food Supplements Directive applies. This information is available at www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/vitmin/supptable.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Solicitor-General on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W.

General Practitioners

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service general practitioners there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not hold figures for the number of registered national health service general practitioners by London borough. However, the table shows the latest figures available for the number of general medical practitioners for London by strategic health authority (SHA) and primary care trust (PCT) as at 31 March 2005.
	
		General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars)(66) for London by SHA and PCT, as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			  England 32,194 
			  London 4,821 
			
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 807 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 235 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 136 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT 167 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching PCT 141 
			 5K8 Islington PCT 128 
			
			 Q06 North East London SHA 935 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 82 
			 5C3 City and Hackney PCT 165 
			 5A4 Havering PCT 122 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 161 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT 126 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 134 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 145 
			
			 Q04 North West London SHA 1,174 
			 5K5 Brent PCT 201 
			 5HX Ealing PCT 194 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 107 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT 144 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 141 
			 5HY Hounslow PCT 135 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 108 
			 5LC Westminster PCT 144 
			
			 Q07 South East London SHA 1,024 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 129 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT 203 
			 5A8 Greenwich PCT 132 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 212 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT 170 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 178 
			
			 Q08 South West London SHA 881 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT 222 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT 108 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 121 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 240 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 190 
		
	
	(66)General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (CMS) others and personal medical service (PMS) others. Prior to September 2004, this group included CMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre CMS and PMS statistics.

General Practitioners

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are in (a) Castle Point and (b) Canvey Island; and what estimate she has made of the likely number of retirements over the next five years.

Rosie Winterton: The number of general practitioners in the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust (PCT) area, of which Castle Point and Canvey Island are a part, who are aged 50 and over is shown in the table. Information is not held centrally as to the likely numbers of GPs retiring in the next five years. As part of the new GP contract, there is no upper age limit at which GPs have to retire—it is a personal choice.
	
		Number of GPs in Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust
		
			  numbers (headcount) 
		
		
			 General medical practitioners(67) 93 
			 of which:  
			 50 to 54 17 
			 55 to 59 18 
			 60 to 64 10 
			 65 to 69 5 
			 70 and over 0 
		
	
	(67)Excluding retainers and registrars.
	Note:
	General medical practitioners (excluding retainers and registrars) includes contracted GPs, general medical service (GMS) others and personal medical service (PMS) others. Prior to September 2004, this group included GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, salaried doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
	Source:
	National Health Service Health and Social Care Information Centre GMS and PMS statistics.

General Practitioners

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP appointments were missed by patients in (a) Suffolk, (b) West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust, (c) West Suffolk Primary Care Trust and (d) Central Suffolk Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

General Practitioners

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people (a) requested and (b) received an appointment to see a general practitioner within 48 hours in the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what the average waiting time was for an appointment to see a general practitioner (a) in the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust and (b) for Canvey Island general practitioners in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected in the format requested and the information that is collected centrally cannot be disaggregated to practices as each practice is anonymised within the primary care access survey.
	The latest figures available, for August 2005, show 100 per cent. of patients able to be offered a general practitioner consultation within two working days within the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust area, of which Caney Island is a part.

Glutaraldehyde

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of (a) the extent to which Glutaraldehyde is used in the cleaning of medical equipment in the NHS, (b) the take-up of alternative sterilising agents and (c) the number of healthcare workers that have health problems as a result of exposure to Glutaraldehyde.

Jane Kennedy: The Health and Safety Executive further reduced the occupational exposure limit for Glutaraldehyde in December 2001. This led to a number of Glutaraldehyde-based products being withdrawn from the market and to national health service organisations using alternative chemical disinfectants and sterilizing agents.
	Information regarding the extent to which Glutaraldehyde is used for the cleaning of medical equipment in the NHS and the take-up of alternative sterilizing agents is not collected centrally. It is the responsibility of each NHS organisation's occupational health department to record any incidents of healthcare workers developing health problems resulting from exposure to Glutaraldehyde. Information is not collected centrally by the Department relating to exposure to Glutaraldehyde.

Green Minister

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what work her Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months; and what meetings the Minister has attended in the last 12 months, in that capacity;
	(2)  if she will list the meetings at which her Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Caroline Flint: Following the General Election in May 2005, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G)) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)), the members of which are departmental sustainable development Ministers.
	I was appointed as departmental sustainable development Minister in June 2005.
	The Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government. Although the Government publishes the title, membership and terms of reference of cabinet committees, it has been the practice of successive governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.
	Aside from this, departmental officials are participating in the work of the various committees supporting the EE(SD):
	The Sustainable Operations Board and its supporting working group.
	The Sustainable Development Programme Board and its supporting working group.

Gynaecologists

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service gynaecologists there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested. However, the table shows the latest figures for the number of medical staff with a speciality in obstetrics and gynaecology within London government office region (GOR) by strategic health authority (SHA) as at 30 September 2004.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services: medical staff with a specialty in obstetrics and gynaecology within London GOR by SHA as at 30 September 2004 -- Numbers
		
			   Number Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 London GOR  969 875 
			 North central London Q05 200 174 
			 North east London Q06 174 167 
			 North west London Q04 252 216 
			 South east London Q07 207 193 
			 South west London Q08 136 125 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre medical and dental workforce census

Hazardous Waste Regulations

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the cost to the NHS of implementation of the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The cost to the national health service in England of implementing the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 is estimated to be an additional £6 million per annum.
	It is expected that the NHS in England can contain increased costs by improved training, management and segregation practices. Further guidance is being produced by the Department of Health in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive to assist waste producers, such as the NHS, to understand the new regulations and to manage and dispose of healthcare waste more effectively.

Head Lice

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of head lice in school children in London there were in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected.

Health Bodies (Interim Appraisals)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the merits of mutual recognition of Scottish Medicines Consortium, All Wales Medicines Strategy Group and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence assessments for the purpose of interim appraisals pending full appraisals; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) and All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) assessments are not directly comparable with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence technology appraisals. Primary care trusts are responsible for the managed introduction of new technologies and in doing so, they should take account of the available evidence. This may include material from the SMC and AWMSG where this is available.

Health Care Commission

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of progress by the Health Care Commission (HCC) on dealing with complaints; and what estimate she has made of whether the HCC has adequate resources to deal with the complaints it has received.

Jane Kennedy: I understand from the chair of the Healthcare Commission that it has received an unprecedented number of requests for independent review in its first year, having received over 8,000 cases compared to 3,500 received for the same period last year, under the previous system. This has initially meant some delays in handling cases. However, the Healthcare Commission has increased its staffing levels and has refined its processes to improve the way it handles second stage national health service complaints. As a result of this, the number of complaints resolved each month has increased from 117 in February 2005 to 911 in August 2005 with a total of 4,800 reviews being carried out in the first year.
	The Healthcare Commission is working with the health service Ombudsman and the NHS to improve the handling of NHS complaints at local level, through training and support as well as through ratings and assessment work.

Health Tourism

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department has taken to combat health tourism; what assessment she has made of the impact of these measures; and what further measures she plans to introduce.

Jane Kennedy: The national health service exists primarily for the benefit of people who live here lawfully. Arrangements have been in place since 1982 to charge anyone who is not ordinarily resident here for any NHS hospital treatment received. The current rules are set out in the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended. The Department conducted a wide-ranging review of the operation of the hospital charging regime during 2002–03. This identified loopholes and implementation difficulties arising from changes in travel and migration patterns since the 1989 regulations were first introduced. Amendment regulations, to close the loopholes and make the regulations easier to operate, came into force in April 2004. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the hospital charging regime is being operated more effectively since that time. No further changes are currently planned.
	For primary medical services, a public consultation was carried out last year on proposals to change the rules on access to general practitioner services in order to clarify them and align them as closely as possible with those for secondary care. We are currently considering the response to the consultation with a view to deciding the best way forward.

Hip Replacements (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a hip replacement was in the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The number of elective finished in-year admissions for hip replacement surgery (waiting list and booked cases) for residents within the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust area are shown in the table.
	
		days
		
			  Median waiting time 
		
		
			 1999–2000 242 
			 2000–01 278 
			 2001–02 323 
			 2002–03 300 
			 2003–04 273 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2.The main operation is the first recorded operation in the hospital episode statistics (HES) data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, eg. time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes" give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	3.Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
	4.Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data is ungrossed).
	Source:
	HES, health and social care.

Hospital Services (Reconfiguration)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Minister of State, during her visit to Hammersmith hospital on 20 July, held discussions regarding (a) reconfiguration of hospital services in the Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) the transfer of specialised services from the Charing Cross hospital.

Jane Kennedy: No formal discussions were held by the Minister of State, about the issues raised in this question, during her visit to Hammersmith hospital on 20 July 2005.

Human Genetics, Fertility and Tissue Commission

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she intends to follow the recommendations of the Select Committee on Science and Technology's Fifth Report and create a new Human Genetics, Fertility and Tissue Commission.

Jane Kennedy: The Government published their response to the report from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law", on 16 August 2005. Copies are available in the Library.
	The Government considered whether to establish a single commission with a remit covering the entirety of bioethics issues as part of the Department's review of its arm's length bodies. This was rejected, after careful consideration, on the basis that the present distributed model of advisory bodies with more specific briefs remained the best option as it enables specific bioethical issues to be addressed by dedicated groups with the appropriate expertise and sufficient time to devote to the issue.

Independent Living (State Assistance)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received state assistance to live independently in their own homes in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the number of people aged 18 and over receiving community based services as at 31 March for the years 2001–04 in England and the number from these totals who received direct payments. Data are not available for the earlier years.
	
		Number of people receiving community based services(68)at 31 March, 2001–04, England
		
			  At 31 March  Total(69) Number of whom received direct payments 
		
		
			 2001 941,200 4,000 
			 2002 968,400 5,300 
			 2003(70) 982,100 8,600 
			 2004(70) 994,400 14,000 
		
	
	(68)Community based services includes day care, meals, respite care, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment as well as home care.
	(69)Adults aged 18 and over.
	(70)Data include clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights.
	Note:
	Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	Source:
	RAP proforma P2s, KS1.

London Health Authorities (Financial Position)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest financial position is of each (a) London health authority and (b) London primary care trust.

Jane Kennedy: The 2004–05 financial positions of each London strategic health authority (SHA) and London primary care trust (PCT) are shown in the tables.
	
		2004–05 financial position of London SHAs -- £000
		
			 SHA Final surplus/deficit 
		
		
			 North Central London 22,498 
			 North East London 11,874 
			 North West London 5,977 
			 South East London 11,009 
			 South West London 9,639 
			 Total surplus/deficit 60,997 
		
	
	Note:
	2004–05 data must be treated as provisional until signed off by the National Audit Office/Chief Executive.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules 2004–05.
	
		2004–05 financial position of London PCTs -- £000
		
			 PCT Final surplus/deficit 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 263 
			 Barnet 591 
			 Bexley Care Trust -2,749 
			 Brent Teaching 750 
			 Bromley 35 
			 Camden 114 
			 City and Hackney Teaching 43 
			 Croydon 116 
			 Ealing 12 
			 Enfield 103 
			 Greenwich Teaching 132 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 679 
			 Haringey Teaching 1 
			 Harrow -969 
			 Havering -3,258 
			 Hillingdon -13,470 
			 Hounslow -6,171 
			 Islington 20 
			 Kensington and Chelsea -17,976 
			 Kingston -1,853 
			 Lambeth 713 
			 Lewisham 193 
			 Newham 279 
			 Redbridge 82 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 117 
			 Southwark 146 
			 Sutton and Merton 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 493 
			 Waltham Forest -2,538 
			 Wandsworth -8,237 
			 Westminster 13 
			 Total surplus/deficits -52,326 
		
	
	Note:
	2004–05 data must be treated as provisional until signed off by the National Audit Office/Chief Executive.
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules 2004–05.

Maternity Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the range and adequacy of maternity services in London; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: No such assessment has been made. It is for the local national health service to make assessments about the range and adequacy of health services it provides to the local community, including maternity services.

Maternity Services

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to increase short-term capacity for maternity deliveries in hospitals in the South West London Strategic Health Authority area.

Jane Kennedy: This is a matter for local decision making which should take full account of local circumstances. I have been informed that the South West London Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is actively working to develop and improve maternity services in its area. In August 2004, the SHA commissioned a two-year modernisation of maternity services project and has recently been successful in securing departmental funding of £250,000 to develop a South West London maternity collaborative to build on the work undertaken by this project.

Medical Students

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to expand the number of places for graduate fast-track medical students; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will be looking at the case for further expansion of undergraduate medical education, including the potential for expansionof graduate entry medical degrees. A joint implementation group, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, and the Chief Executive of HEFCE, Sir Howard Newby, has been established to lead this review.

Medicine Disposal Costs

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS of the disposal of patients' regular prescribed medication when they are admitted to hospital.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Mental Health

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost of providing mental health services for adults who have previously been in care in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not centrally available.

Mifepristone

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has received regarding adverse effects associated with mifepristone; what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with (i) the United States Food and Drug Administration about mifepristone and (ii) the manufacturers of mifepristone about possible adverse effects of the drug; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Mifepristone (Mifegyne) is an antiprogestogenic steroid that is licensed for the medical termination of intra-uterine pregnancy of up to nine weeks, for softening and dilating the cervix prior to mechanical termination of pregnancy and, in combination with gemeprost, for terminating pregnancies of 13–20 weeks gestation.
	The United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) receive reports of suspected adverse drug reactions to medicinal products via the yellow card scheme. Since marketing authorisation for mifepristone was first granted in 1991, the MHRA and CSM have received 47 reports of 79 suspected adverse drug reactions in association with its use. The reporting of a suspected adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that the drug was responsible for that event. Many factors, such as the medical condition that is being treated, other pre-existing illnesses or other medications may play a contributing role.
	The MHRA has carefully evaluated the yellow card reports of suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of Mifegyne use in the UK and has concluded that they do not affect the balance of risks and benefits of mifepristone and that the safety profile of this medicine is adequately described in the summary of product characteristics provided to health professionals and in the patient information leaflet.
	The MHRA is aware of recent regulatory action taken in the United States (US) following reports of suspected adverse drug reactions in association with the use of mifepristone in a manner that is not consistent with the approved labelling. However, serious adverse reactions associated with mifepristone have been recently reviewed by the regulatory authorities within Europe and an expert group of the CSM advised that since birth, menstruation and abortion create conditions that are conducive to an increased risk of infection there was currently insufficient data to warrant regulatory action. There has been no contact with the Food and Drug Administration or the manufacturer on this specific issue.
	The manufacturer has a legal obligation to provide the MHRA with reports of serious adverse reactions to mifepristone within 15 days of their receipt, including the US/irrespective of the country of origin. Similarly, reports received by the MHRA are sent to the manufacturer within 15 days of receipt. This ensures that both the MHRA and the manufacturer have access to all the available information with which to monitor the safety of mifepristone.
	As with all marketed medicines, the MHRA will continue to monitor the safety of mifepristone and will take any action to ensure patient safety is maintained.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence decisions are sufficiently resourced to ensure rapid uptake of recommendations.

Jane Kennedy: Provision is made within national health service allocations for the estimated impact on the NHS of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Neonatal Care (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been made available for neonatal care in the Essex Health Authority area in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is up to local national health service organisations to identify local priorities and decide on the distribution of their overall funding allocation across the range of services to be provided in the context of local need.

NHS (Spare Capacity)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has commissioned to assess the amount of spare capacity within the NHS.

Liam Byrne: Capacity requirements are assessed by each strategic health authority as part of its local delivery planning responsibilities. The Department has not commissioned specific research in this area but encouraged the necessary increase in capacity to improve patient access to services and reduce waiting periods.

NHS Consultants

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant posts were vacant in the NHS in England on 31 March in each of the past five years; and what assessment she has made of (a) trends in levels of and (b) reasons for consultant vacancies.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number and rate of vacancies for consultants lasting three months or more in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	The recent fall in vacancy rates consolidates last year's downward trend and comes at the same time as a considerable increase in consultants. There are 9,389, or 44 per cent. more consultants employed in the national health service than there were in 1997. Overall, the picture is one of growth and reducing vacancies.
	
		Three month vacancy rate and number for all consultants in England as at 31 March 2000–05
		
			  Three month vacancy rate percentage Three month vacancy number Staff in post (full-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 2005 3.3 973 28,822 31,210 
			 2004 4.4 1,255 27,564 30,176 
			 2003 4.7 1,264 25,434 27,775 
			 2002 3.8 946 23,713 25,816 
			 2001 3.0 672 21,626 23,716 
			 2000 2.8 596 20,830 22,627 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	2.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	3.Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	4.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	5.*where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is less then 10.
	6.—where the sum of the staff in post and number of vacancies is zero.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental vacancy survey.

Nurses

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many registered national health service nurses there are in each London borough;
	(2)  how many registered national health service midwives there are in each London borough;
	(3)  how many registered national health service psychiatric nurses there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is collected as total qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in London government office region (GOR) by strategic health authority (SHA). The table shows the latest figures available as at 30 September 2004.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in London GOR by SHA area as at 30 September 2004 -- Headcount
		
			  Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff Of which: MidwivesPsychiatry 
		
		
			 London GOR Total 65,333 3,950 10,266 
			 North Central London SHA 13,115 689 1,681 
			 North East London SHA 12,067 927 1,787 
			 North West London SHA 15,774 844 2,756 
			 South East London SHA 14,136 861 3,216 
			 South West London SHA 10,241 629 826 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004.

Nurses

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses are employed in the Essex Health Authority area on (a) permanent and (b) temporary contracts.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of nurses in the Essex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the number of qualified nurses in the Essex SHA area and the number of bank nurses.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total qualified nurses in the Essex SHA area by organisation by nature of contract as at 30 September 2004 -- headcount
		
			   Total qualified nurses of which Bank nurses 
		
		
			 Essex SHA total  8,926 954 
			 
			 Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals  NHS Foundation Trust RDD 1,138 258 
			 Basildon PCT 5GR 122 0 
			 Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford PCT 5GP 118 0 
			 Castle Point and Rochford PCT 5JP 152 6 
			 Chelmsford PCT 5JN 108 0 
			 Colchester PCT 5GM 293 8 
			 Epping Forest PCT 5AJ 140 6 
			 Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust RB4 1 0 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust RDE 1,092 0 
			 Essex SHA Q03 10 0 
			 Harlow PCT 5DC 115 11 
			 Maldon and South Chelmsford PCT 5GL 142 0 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust RQ8 1,454 295 
			 North Essex Mental Health Partnership  NHS Trust RRD 746 64 
			 Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust RQW 739 46 
			 South Essex Partnership NHS Trust RWN 641 149 
			 Southend Hospital NHS Trust RAJ 1,119 49 
			 Southend on Sea PCT 5AK 193 19 
			 Tendring PCT 5AH 196 20 
			 Thurrock PCT 5GQ 145 0 
			 Uttlesford PCT 5GN 83 4 
			 Witham Braintree and Halstead Care Trust TAG 179 19 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre non-medical workforce census 2004

Nurses

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent nursing vacancies there are in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority.

Rosie Winterton: The number of nursing vacancies in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority area are shown in the following table. All vacancy rates are calculated on full-time equivalent vacancy numbers.
	
		Health and social care information centre vacancies survey March 2005. National health service three month vacancies in the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority area by organisation for qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. Three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post.
		
			   March 2005 September 2004 
			   Three month vacancy rate (percentage) Three month vacancy number (Staff in post) full-time equivalent (Staff in post) headcount 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority  area total Q02 5.0 368 7,064 9,955 
			 Bedford hospitals NHS trust RC1 1 .5 11 702 1,156 
			 Bedford PCT 5GD 0.0 0 156 203 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire ambulance and paramedic  service NHS trust RFU (71)— 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA Q02 (71)— 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire and Luton community NHS trust RV7 13.3 75 488 591 
			 Bedfordshire Heartlands PCT 5GE 3.0 6 202 269 
			 Dacorum PCT 5GW 2.8 3 113 168 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust RWH 4.0 58 1,410 2,557 
			 Hertfordshire Partnership NHS trust RWR 7.7 70 834 974 
			 Hertsmere PCT 5CP 0.0 0 94 119 
			 Luton and Dunstable hospital NHS trust RC9 0.1 1 819 1,021 
			 Luton PCT 5GC 9.3 19 182 238 
			 North Hertfordshire and Stevenage PCT 5GH 1 3 3 201 274 
			 Royston, Buntingford and Bishop's Stortford PCT 5GK 1.0 1 95 118 
			 South East Hertfordshire PCT 5GJ 1 9 3 132 204 
			 St. Albans and Harpenden PCT 5GX 0.3 0 124 163 
			 Watford and Three Rivers PCT 5GV 7.3 9 116 145 
			 Welwyn Hatfield PCT 5GG 7.3 6 76 108 
			 West Hertfordshire hospitals NHS trust RWG 7.3 103 1,321 1,647 
		
	
	(71)=zero.
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy:
	1.Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2005.
	2.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	3.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4.Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the non-medical workforce census September 2004.
	5.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Staff in post:
	6.Staff in post data is from the non-medical workforce census September 2004.
	General:
	7.Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	8.Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	9.Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	10.Strategic health authority figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
	Sources:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Vacancies Survey March 2005
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004

Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners/Opticians

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service ophthalmic medical practitioners there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available in the format requested.
	However, the table shows the number of ophthalmic opticians holding national health service contracts in primary care trusts (PCTs) in Greater London, at the end of year 2003. Ophthalmic opticians may hold contracts in more than one PCT; therefore the data shown in the table is not comparable.
	
		Ophthalmic opticians holding NHS contracts in PCTs in Greater London, at end of year 2003
		
			 PCT Number 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 4 
			 Havering 8 
			 Barnet 11 
			 Bexley 0 
			 Greenwich Teaching 21 
			 Brent Teaching 5 
			 Harrow 4 
			 Bromley 38 
			 Camden 4 
			 Islington 8 
			 Croydon 16 
			 Ealing 12 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 
			 Hounslow 9 
			 Newham 16 
			 City and Hackney 6 
			 Tower Hamlets 8 
			 Enfield 8 
			 Haringey 1 
			 Hillingdon 9 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2 
			 Westminster 5 
			 Kingston 23 
			 Richmond and Twickenham 7 
			 Lambeth 8 
			 Lewisham 12 
			 Southwark 16 
			 Sutton and Merton 64 
			 Wandsworth 6 
			 Redbridge 15 
			 Waltham Forest 16

Ophthalmic Medical Practitioners/Opticians

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ophthalmic opticians there were in each London health authority in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available in the format requested.

Out-of-hours Care (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost was to the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust of providing out-of-hours care to patients in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust (PCT) was established on 1 April 2002. Therefore, data can be provided only for two years. Data for 2004–05 are not yet available.
	The total cost of providing out-of-hours care to patients was £189,000 in 2002–03 and £247,000 in 2003–04 1 .
	We expect PCTs to fund out-of-hours services through their general funding allocations. In 2005–06, Castle Point and Rochford PCT received £157 million. In 2006–07, it will receive £188 million.
	1 Source:
	Castle Point and Rochford PCT financial returns, 2002–03 and 2003–04.

Overseas Nurses

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor the number of overseas nurses employed by the NHS in England.

Liam Byrne: The Nursing and Midwifery Council's data on international registrations of nurses provides information on the level of international recruitment in the United Kingdom. Figures for 2004–05 show a fall of 19 per cent. in the number of international registrations from the previous year. The Department has no plans to collect other data on the number of overseas nurses employed in England.

Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial deficit was for the Peterborough and Stamford NHS Foundation Trust for the last financial year.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the chair of the Peterborough and Stamford National Health Service Foundation Trust. I have written to the chair, Dr. Clive Morton, informing him of the hon. Member's inquiry.

Physiotherapists

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered national health service physiotherapists there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not collect figures for the number of national health service physiotherapists by London borough. However, the table shows the latest figures available for the number of physiotherapists in the London government office region (GOR) by strategic health authority (SHA) area as at 30 September 2004.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total physiotherapists in London GOR by SHA area as at 30 September 2004
		
			  Headcount 
		
		
			 London GOR 2,630 
			 North Central London SHA 524 
			 North East London SHA 464 
			 North West London SHA 614 
			 South East London SHA 553 
			 South West London SHA 475 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004

Physiotherapists

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many junior physiotherapy posts were (a) established and (b) staffed in the NHS in Essex in the last 12 months.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Physiotherapists

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the NHS trusts which have vacancy freezes affecting physiotherapy posts, broken down by strategic health authority.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect this information.

Pregnancy Termination

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses suffering (i) stress and (ii)other mental health problems as a result of their taking part in termination of pregnancy operations in each year since 1975; and what estimate she has made of the related cost to the national health service.

Caroline Flint: The Government do not hold information centrally on the reasons for sickness absence by doctors and nurses.
	Section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, states that, except where treatment is necessary to save the life of, or prevent grave permanent injury to the pregnant woman, no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection".

Pressure Sores

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether targets for pressure sore reduction were met in the last financial year.

Liam Byrne: There are no targets for the reduction of pressure sores. Reducing the incidence of pressure sores in hospitals is tackled locally through clinical governance; a programme of continuous improvement in clinical care. The toolkit, Essence of Care—patient focused benchmarks for clinical governance", includes a chapter specific to pressure ulcers.
	This is underpinned by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines that also focus on screening and assessment, informing patients and their carers, the development and implementation of an individualised plan for prevention and treatment to be agreed and delivered by a multidisciplinary team working with patients and their carers.

Private Treatment

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients have paid privately forsome portion of their diagnosis or treatment since 2000.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally available.

Recycling

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of copying paper used by her Department in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained;
	(2)  what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that all copying paper brought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content;
	(3)  by what date her Department expects to implement in full the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper brought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 per cent. post-consumer waste;
	(4)  if she will list her Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports, in each case stating (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled (and post-consumer recycled) content of each paper.

Jane Kennedy: The Department's contracted supplier for all copier paper, bulk stationery and envelopes is Office Depot. The vast majority of white paper purchased is Niceday 3500, which is 80 grams per square metre, 100 per cent. recycled using 80 per cent. post consumer waste.
	Bulk paper copying is carried out on Xerox 'x3' brand paper. This is 100 per cent. post consumer waste recycled. This exceeds the target set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste.
	In 2003–04, 85 per cent. of the copying paper used in the Department was from recycled sources. In 2004–05, this proportion had increased to 96.5 per cent.
	For parliamentary work, carried out by Central Office of Information (COI), for example, Command Papers, Acts and other departmental papers, the minimum recycled fibre content required is 75 per cent. for coated and 100 per cent. for uncoated papers, virgin fibre pulp being elemental chlorine free or preferably totally chlorine free. Mill broke is not included in the recycled fibre content. Applying the National Association of Paper Merchants definition for recycled content, the recycled fibre can include converters waste, printers waste and post consumer waste from homes and offices.
	For all other printed publications, the selection of paper stock is based on the most cost-effective quotation that represents value for money use of public funds. As such, the actual brand of recycled and environmentally friendly paper and its specifications rests with the COI and the Department is unable to make a detailed statement on the information requested.

Registered Nursing Care Contributions

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received registered nursing care contributions in each year since the payment was introduced, broken down by area.

Liam Byrne: In October 2001, the Government delivered on time the commitment given in the NHS Plan to introduce national health service-funded nursing care, for those self funding their care, in a care home providing nursing care who had previously paid for the care they needed from a registered nurse. From April 2003, all residents of care homes providing nursing care, including those placed by local authorities, have received NHS funding of their nursing care, rather than that element of their care being provided by the local council and subject to a means test.
	The numbers of people receiving free NHS nursing care are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Strategic health authority 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 3,694 6,894 6,421 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 783 3,864 1,474 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 1,763 4,551 4,631 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 2,651 7,963 15,740 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,739 3,804 3,286 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire,  Herefordshire and Worcestershire 1,824 3,567 3,795 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 2,276 3,807 3,343 
			 Essex 432 1,445 1,730 
			 Greater Manchester 2,875 6,065 6,032 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 2,286 4,046 4,085 
			 Kent and Medway 2,288 2,755 2,796 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and  Rutland 1,236 2,254 1,975 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 1,952 4,382 4,391 
			 North and East Yorkshire and  Northern Lincolnshire 3,012 4,688 5,413 
			 North Central London 606 1,484 1,936 
			 North East London 1,623 2,402 2,181 
			 North West London 733 2,131 1,967 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,293 3,796 3,418 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 1,498 3,778 4,443 
			 Somerset and Dorset 2,058 3,905 3,829 
			 South East London 1,361 3,006 4,129 
			 South West London 1,790 3,187 2,987 
			 South West Peninsula 1,914 4,405 4,368 
			 South Yorkshire 1,510 3,639 3,340 
			 Surrey and Sussex 6,157 9,183 9,389 
			 Thames Valley 2,343 4,095 4,818 
			 Trent 4,169 7,206 7,244 
			 West Yorkshire 1,885 6,716 6,412 
			 Total England 58,751 119,018 125,573 
		
	
	Note:
	The data show a count of the number of people benefiting from NHS-funded nursing care at the end of each year for which data were collected.
	Source:
	Local delivery plan returns.

Renewable Energy

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) her Department and (b) its agencies came from renewable sources in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The proportion of energy purchased that comes from renewable sources for the Department's main London estate is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1997–98 0 
			 1998–99 0 
			 1999–2000 0 
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 43 
			 2002–03 76 
			 2003–04 61 
			 2004–05 100 
		
	
	The proportion of energy purchased from renewable sources for the National Health Service Purchasing and Supplies Agency (NHS PASA) is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 
			 2001–02 43.4 
			 2002–03 99 
			 2003–04 99 
			 2004–05 84 
		
	
	Note:
	NHS PASA came into existence as a departmental agency in April 2000.

Solpaflex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the drug Solpaflex became available on national health service prescription; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what information she has received on the number of persons prescribed the drug Solpaflex on national health service prescription; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Solpaflex, in both tablet and gel forms, was first licensed for use in the United Kingdom in 1996, when it was first dispensed on prescription in the community, in England. The licence for the gel form expired in 2001, when the product ceased to be prescribed. The tablet form is still licensed and can be prescribed.
	The Department does not hold data on the number of people who receive a particular drug. However, since 1996, Prescription Pricing Authority data show small numbers of prescriptions for Solpaflex, in both forms, in any one year, have never exceeded 400.

Special Care Baby Units (Essex)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies had to be moved between hospitals to access a special care baby unit in the Essex Health Authority area in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of babies moved between hospitals to access special care baby units within the Essex Strategic Health Authority area is not collected centrally.

Speech Therapists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent posts for (a) speech therapists and (b) occupational therapists were vacant (i) 12, (ii) 24, (iii) 36 and (iv) 48 months ago; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many established full-time equivalent posts for (a) speech therapists and (b) occupational therapists there are in (i) England and (ii) each primary care trust; how many such posts are vacant; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of vacancies lasting three months or more is collected in the national health service workforce vacancy survey as at 31 March each year. The information available has been placed in the Library.
	The number of occupational therapists employed in the NHS has increased by 4,853, or 42 per cent. since 1997 and speech and language therapists have increased by 1,685, or 35 per cent. In addition, there have been increases in the number of students entering training for these professions of 64 per cent. and 62 per cent. respectively since 1999–2000.

Suffolk West Primary Care Trust

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by Suffolk West Primary Care Trust on salaries and wages for (a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and cleric staff in each of the last five financial years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the information requested for the period 2002–03 to 2003–04. This is the earliest available data.
	
		Expenditure on salaries and wages by Suffolk West Primary Care Trust (PCT) -- £
		
			 Staff 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Senior managers and managers 801,407 1,199,884 
			 Nursing, midwifery and health  visiting staff 4,417,034 4,596,315 
			 Administrative and clerical 1,119,723 1,293,662 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual financial returns of Suffolk West PCT.

Sustainable Development

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of bids made for contracts awarded by her Department; who makes such assessments; and whether such assessments are published.

Caroline Flint: Although the Department has not yet created its own sustainable development procurement policy, its procurement guidance includes advice on sustainable development. Responsibility for assessment rests with the individual business units undertaking the procurement. The Department's procurement guidance advises staff to observe the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency's, which is an Executive agency of the Department, comprehensive sustainable development policy.
	Where appropriate, contracts will have sustainable development and environmental assessments built into the evaluation criteria. Evaluations are the responsibility of the individual business units that own the contracts.
	Information on evaluation is kept on file.

Sustainable Development

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements her Department has in place to publish reports on their key sustainable development impacts.

Caroline Flint: The Government's sustainable development strategy, Securing the Future", requires all Government Departments to produce an action plan by December 2005. The Department is in the process of forming its action plan. The action plan itself is likely to clarify the future mechanisms for publishing progress against key actions and there is ongoing discussion about this.
	The Department does not currently publish a separate report on sustainable development, but it does publish a section on sustainable development in its annual report both in terms of its operations and its policy.
	The Department also completes the annual sustainable development in a Government questionnaire, the results of which are published by the Sustainable Development Commission.
	In addition to this, the Department publishes a statement on its website on sustainable development. This statement is kept up to date by named personnel and regularly reviewed.

Sustainable Development

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to assist the delivery of sustainable development within Government and what progress has been made on her Department's Sustainable Development Strategy.

Caroline Flint: The Department is committed to the sustainability of its estate and operations, and isworking to meet the targets set out in the framework for sustainable development on the Government Estate. The Department's performance is monitored and reported on in the Sustainable Development in Government" report.
	Departmental officials take part in the discussions on the framework, which is currently under review, as part of the work of the Sustainable Operations Board (SOB) and the SOB working group.
	The Department's operational environmental strategy for monitoring and reporting on the use of energy and resources within its buildings, available since 1 January 2002, is now under review. It aims to enable the Department to contribute to a better environment and through this, improve people's health.
	As part of our commitment to meeting targets, the Department is implementing an environmental management system (EMS) and training on this. Initiatives include saving energy and water and reducing the impacts of waste and travel. This will be relevant to staff in all buildings.
	The Department has been purchasing at least 50 per cent. of its electricity from renewable sources since 2000–01, meaning that by 2003–04, overall carbon emissions had been reduced—from gas and electricity—by 15 per cent. compared with 1999–2000. The Department is in the process of rationalising its estate, and this will provide further opportunities to reduce overall consumption levels. In addition to this, the Department encourages use of video and tele-conferences, and staff to work from home where appropriate, eliminating up to 1,200 journeys a month.
	The Department is in the process of forming its action plan. The plan will aim to clarify those areas already in progress in the Department, new areas for action; how both staff and stakeholders will become engaged; the mechanism for reporting of progress against targets. The plan will be ready for ministerial approval by December 2005.

Toxic Chemicals in Newborn Babies

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the possible presence of toxic chemicals in newborn babies; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There is very little published research on levels of chemicals in newborn babies, reflecting the difficulty and ethical considerations in undertaking such work.
	The Department, in conjunction with the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Health and Safety Executive, funded some research on creating an archive of breast milk samples. Some preliminary information on levels of chemicals in human breast milk was available. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment recently reviewed preliminary data and made a statement. This is available on the FSA website at http://www.food.gov.uk/science/ouradvisors/toxicity/statements/cotstatements2004branch/cotstatebreastmilk.

Video Conferencing Units

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) her Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has a total of 14 fixed video conferencing studios in its main buildings in London and Leeds, with a further 10 mobile video conferencing facilities in meeting rooms and nine desktop, video conferencing units, in these and other departmental locations.
	The Department has video conferencing facilities in 44 per cent. of the total number of departmental buildings which accommodate 70 per cent. of staff working on departmental business.
	The Department continuously monitors use made of video conferencing facilities to ensure sufficient capacity is available and maximum benefit obtained. There are no current plans to increase capacity. The Department is currently undertaking a strategic review of the technologies available and further investment may result.
	The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA) currently has video conferencing facilities in four out of five, or 80 per cent., of its buildings.
	NHS PASA continuously monitors usage levels of all video conferencing facilities. There are currently some web camera trials under way for home based workers, but there are no plans to increase the number of conventional video conferencing facilities.
	The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has video conferencing facilities in all of its four locations.
	As part of a process to co-locate most MHRA staff in one building, current and future video conferencing requirements were reviewed in early 2005. There are no plans to increase the number of installed units.
	NHS Estates (NHSE) has video conferencing units in five out of six, or 83 per cent., of its offices. NHSE will no longer exist from the end of September 2005; consequently, there are no plans for further investment.

Waiting Times

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time in hospitals within the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority for a person referred by a general practitioner to see a hospital consultant was in each of the last four years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Median outpatient waiting times in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority area
		
			 As at March each year Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 2002 8.3 
			 2003 7.2 
			 2004 7.3 
			 2005 7.2

Waiting Times

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for those referred for treatment by GPs in (a) each London primary care trust and (b) each London health authority was in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not available in the format requested because there were changes to national health service organisations from 1997 to date and therefore data are not comparable.
	However, the table shows figures prior to 2002 by health authority (HA) and from 2002 by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA).
	
		Estimated average waiting time for first out-patient appointment following general practitioner written referral, June 1997 to June 2001—health authorities within North Thames and South Thames regional office areas (responsible population based) -- Median waiting time (weeks)
		
			   Quarter ended 
			 Code Name June 1997 June 1998 June 1999 June 2000 June 2001 
		
		
			 QA2 Hillingdon HA 6.7 7.4 8.3 9.1 7.6 
			 QA3 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 5.8 3.9 8.0 6.9 6.6 
			 QA4 Enfield and Haringey HA 6.8 7.7 8.6 8.8 n/a 
			 QA5 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 7.3 7.4 8.7 8.8 8.3 
			 QAA Bexley and Greenwich HA 5.6 7.3 6.9 7.3 n/a 
			 QAC Bromley HA 8.0 8.2 8.7 6.6 n/a 
			 QAD Croydon HA 5.0 6.0 6.7 7.1 6.0 
			 QAG Kingston and Richmond HA 5.4 4.6 5.4 5.9 5.6 
			 QAH Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 7.1 8.2 7.9 7.0 7.2 
			 QAJ Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 5.3 3.6 7.0 6.7 6.4 
			 QAP Barking and Havering HA 8.0 8.2 8.7 8.0 8.4 
			 QAQ Barnet HA 5.6 6.6 7.1 7.7 n/a 
			 QAR Brent and Harrow HA 6.8 5.8 7.2 6.9 6.9 
			 QAT Camden and Islington HA 5.8 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.2 
			 QAV Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 5.6 6.4 6.7 6.4 6.3 
			 QAW East London and City HA 7.5 8.9 8.5 8.1 7.6 
			 QEW Barnet, Enfield and Haringey n/a n/a n/a n/a 8.0 
			 QEY Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich n/a n/a n/a n/a 7.3 
		
	
	n/a—not applicable.
	Note:
	Health authority reorganisation 2001–02:
	Barnet HA and Enfield and Haringey HA merged to form Barnet, Enfield and Haringey HA.
	Bexley and Greenwich HA and Bromley HA merged to form Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich HA.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R.
	
		Estimated average waiting time for first out-patient appointment following GP written referral, June 2002 to June 2005—PCTs within SHAs in London (responsible population based) -- Median waiting time (weeks)
		
			   Quarter ended 
			 Code Name June 2002 June 2003 June 2004 June 2005 
		
		
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT 7.8 7.6 7.3 7.0 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 6.3 6.4 6.2 7.2 
			 5HX Ealing PCT 7.3 5.7 8.3 8.0 
			 SHY Hounslow PCT 6.6 6.9 7.1 6.7 
			 5K5 Brent PCT 6.5 7.5 8.0 8.5 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT 7.9 7.9 9.1 8.5 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT 6.3 6.8 6.6 7.2 
			 5LC Westminster PCT 7.1 7.6 7.0 7.5 
			  North West London SHA 7.0 7.1 7.5 7.6 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 8.3 7.9 7.7 7.6 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT 10.5 8.3 8.0 7.9 
			 5C9 Haringey PCT 7.5 6.7 6.5 7.1 
			 5K7 Camden PCT 8.2 7.1 7.2 9.4 
			 5K8 Islington PCT 6.0 6.1 6.3 10.7 
			  North Central London SHA 8.2 7.3 7.2 8.2 
			 5A4 Havering PCT 8.4 8.8 8.1 6.9 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT 9.1 8.7 8.6 7.3 
			 5C3 City and Hackney PCT 7.5 6.5 5.8 5.7 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT 7.7 7.6 7.7 7.4 
			 5C5 Newham PCT 7.5 6.9 7.0 8.3 
			 5C6 Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT 8.8 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5C7 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 8.2 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5C8 Redbridge PCT 9.5 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5NA Redbridge PCT n/a 9.4 7.3 7.2 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT n/a 8.6 8.1 7.9 
			  North East London SHA 8.2 7.9 7.4 7.2 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT 6.6 5.9 6.1 6.1 
			 5A8 Greenwich PCT 8.7 7.6 7.2 6.7 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT 8.3 8.0 7.5 7.1 
			 5LE Southwark PCT 8.4 7.9 7.7 7.1 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT 8.1 8.4 7.7 8.4 
			 5AX Bexley PCT 8.1 7.3 n/a n/a 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust n/a n/a 7.0 6.6 
			  South East London SHA 7.9 7.4 7.2 7.9 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT 6.7 7.0 6.8 6.7 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT 6.8 5.8 7.7 6.6 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT 6.6 7.0 6.2 6.4 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 5.8 6.0 6.2 6.1 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT 6.9 7.3 6.9 6.7 
			  South West London SHA 6.6 6.6 6.8 6.5 
		
	
	n/a—not applicable.
	Notes:
	1.Strategic health authorities in London:
	North West London, North Central London, North East London, South East London, South West London.
	2.Primary Care Trust re-organisation 2003–04:
	Redbridge PCT (5C8) and Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT (part) merged to form Redbridge PCT (5NA).
	Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT and Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT (part) merged to form Waltham Forest PCT.
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08R.

Waiting Times

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was between general practitioner referral and hospital treatment in the (a) Essex Health Authority area and (b) Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust in the last period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The Government's target is that by the end of 2008 no patient will have to wait more than 18 weeks from general practitioner referral to start of hospital treatment. We do not currently collect information on the length of time from GP referral to start of treatment, so it is not yet possible to report on individual organisations' progress towards the target. We will be working with the national health service to introduce new data reporting systems to support delivery of the target.

Ward Temperatures

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines her Department has issued to hospitals regarding the maximum temperature allowed on wards for the welfare of staff and the comfort of patients.

Jane Kennedy: General guidance on the design and control of environmental temperatures in ward areas are contained in the Department's health building note 04, Inpatient Accommodation Options for Choice", and health technical memorandum 2025, Ventilation in Healthcare Premises Design Considerations". No maximum temperature is identified except where related to summertime temperatures when measures should be considered to maintain internal temperature to a value not exceeding three degrees Celsius above external shade temperature.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Affordable Housing

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was allocated for the provision of affordable housing in each of the Northern Ireland constituencies in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: I have taken affordable housing to mean social housing for rent and low cost private sector housing the purchasers of which receive assistance through the Northern Ireland Co-ownership scheme. The following table shows the total cost of social dwellings for rent started in each year:
	
		Social housing costs by constituency -- £000
		
			 Constituency 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 East Antrim 0 724 2,084 2,603 2,699 
			 North Antrim 3,070 368 998 1,948 1,224 
			 South Antrim 1,423 569 574 1,107 1,442 
			 Upper Bann 345 0 1,022 2,516 1,637 
			 East Belfast 5,741 4,780 4,255 8,044 3,945 
			 North Belfast 8,078 16,045 19,152 31,567 27,487 
			 South Belfast 3,440 12,375 3,421 5,987 3,890 
			 West Belfast 8,646 11,632 10,742 35,281 37,686 
			 North Down 0 3,305 1,986 6,318 2,932 
			 South Down 743 4,779 568 2,915 2,067 
			 Fermanagh and  South Tyrone 3,600 562 2,414 3,125 4,171 
			 Foyle 20,970 5,655 3,123 6,340 11,082 
			 Lagan Valley 6,091 639 9,507 10,524 14,341 
			 East Londonderry 2,852 481 3,451 6,160 117 
			 Mid Ulster 179 623 919 216 244 
			 Newry and Armagh 960 1,570 2,403 2,828 6,972 
			 Strangford 0 1,377 0 208 1,523 
			 West Tyrone 747 6,922 597 3,836 2,475 
			 Totals 66,885 72,406 67,216 131,523 125,934 
		
	
	Funding for the Northern Ireland Co-ownership scheme, under which participants part purchase, part rent homes is allocated on a demand led, first come first served basis, and not by constituency. Information is not held in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Expenditure by the Co-ownership Housing Association is made up of housing association grant provided by the Department supplemented by surpluses generated by the association itself. The allocation of funding for the co-ownership scheme for each of the past five years were as follows:
	
		Funding for co-ownership scheme -- £ million
		
			  DSD NICHA Total 
		
		
			 2000–01 5.8 6.6 12.4 
			 2001–02 10.2 9.8 20.0 
			 2002–03 12.9 12.2 25.1 
			 2003–04 7.9 7.7 15.6 
			 2004–05 12.6 6.2 18.8 
		
	
	Existing Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Housing Association properties are available for sale with discount to sitting tenants. These sales are demand led and add to the availability of affordable homes for purchase.

Ambulance Service

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many emergency calls have been received by the ambulance services in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The numbers of emergency calls received by the ambulance service in each of the last five calendar years are as follows:
	
		Ambulance service—emergency calls
		
			  Number of calls 
		
		
			 2004 113,242 
			 2003 115,009 
			 2002 109,870 
			 2001 104,167 
			 2000 91,392

Areas of Special Scientific Interest

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that all qualifying areas of special scientific interest in Northern Ireland are declared by 2010 in relation to the UK's commitment to halt biodiversity loss.

Angela Smith: The target for Northern Ireland is to maintain or improve the conservation condition of 95 per cent. of the features underlying the designation of internationally important wildlife sites and ASSIs by 2013. In a report published on 8 July it is shown that almost two thirds of the features of Northern Ireland's ASSIs are in favourable condition. Steps are being taken both to complete the declaration of ASSIs and to protect and manage existing sites.

Areas of Special Scientific Interest

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the amount of funding required by the Environment and Heritage Service to meet its target (a) of completing the full area of special scientific interest designation programme by 2015 and (b) of ensuring that 95 per cent. of features of areas of special scientific interest are in or approaching favourable condition by 2013.

Angela Smith: Substantial additional resources have been allocated to the ASSI programme and a comprehensive review will be undertaken in 2006 to assess progress towards achievement of the targets.

Areas of Special Scientific Interest

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding was requested by Environment and Heritage Service for work on the areas of special scientific interest programme in the budget rounds of (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2005–06; and how much funding was allocated.

Angela Smith: In the Spending Review of 2002, the Department of the Environment sought an additional £100,000 for each of the financial years 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 for this work. An additional allocation of £100,000 was duly made for each of these three years.
	No additional allocations were sought in the 2004 Spending Review.

Arson Attacks (Schools)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many arson attacks there were on schools in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.

Angela Smith: The Education and Library Boards have advised that the number of arson attacks on controlled and maintained schools in the last four years are as follows:
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Belfast 5 7 4 2 
			 North Eastern 2 2 2 1 
			 South Eastern (72)— 5 8 6 
			 Southern 5 5 1 1 
			 Western 2 1 1 4 
			 Total 14 20 16 14 
		
	
	(72)Information not readily available.
	The Boards do not hold information on arson attacks on voluntary grammar and grant maintained integrated schools.

Bomb Squad

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Police Service Northern Ireland and (b) Army personnel were working within the bomb squad in Northern Ireland on the last day for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service for Northern Ireland does not deploy personnel as part of any bomb squad operating in Northern Ireland. All bomb squad personnel working within Northern Ireland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much money was spent on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis in Northern Ireland in the financial year 2003–04; and how much was spent on (a) administration, (b) field activity and (c) compensation to farmers.

Angela Smith: During the financial year 2003–04, total expenditure on the tuberculosis eradication scheme was £28.1 million. Compensation to farmers amounted to £15.4 million. Staff administration costs were £4.3 million while field activity, which includes payments to private veterinary practitioners for testing, purchase of tuberculin, haulier payments and research and development costs, accounted for a further £8.4 million. Some £3.6 million was recouped in salvage payments.

Child Protection Services

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the governance arrangements are for child protection services between trusts, boards and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety provides legislation, policy and procedural guidance to enable Boards and Trusts to safeguard children and promote their welfare. The Department is responsible for ensuring that Boards and Trusts have established satisfactory arrangements for the discharge of all child protection functions under the Children (NI) Order 1995 and other relevant legislation and guidance. The Department ensures this through a range of accountability, reporting and monitoring mechanisms.
	Boards are responsible for planning to meet child protection needs within their areas through the Children's Services Planning process and for commissioning from Trusts the full range of child protection services. Each Board has an Area Child Protection Committee overseeing child protection arrangements throughout the Board area. Each Board is responsible for ensuring that Trusts have proper arrangements in place to fulfil all relevant child protection functions under the Children Order, which the Board has delegated to them. Boards have the authority to monitor, evaluate and inspect services directly and to require Trusts to provide them with information on any matter related to the discharge of relevant child protection functions.
	Trusts are responsible in law for the discharge of all relevant child protection functions delegated to them by Boards. They are accountable to Boards and through them to the Department for ensuring that child protection services are provided in accordance with the arrangements set out in the Boards' Schemes for Delegation of Statutory Functions and to any standards prescribed under the authority of the Schemes.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 2001–02; and for each year, on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii)outside his Department.

Angela Smith: The following number of cases have been recorded in the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration and their agencies and the Northern Ireland Office for the three years ending 31 March 2004:
	
		
			  Number of cases 
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 (a) Computer hacking 5 3 12 
			 (b) Computer fraud 0 0 0 
			 (c) Computer theft 9 4 4 
			 (i) Illegal accesses by computer  hackers within his Department 4 3 11 
			 (ii) Illegal accesses by computer  hackers outside his Department 1 0 1 
		
	
	Figures for 2004–05 are currently being finalised and details will be provided as soon as they are available.

Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the (a) names and (b) numbers of management consultants employed by his Department in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: I have placed in the Library, information on the names and numbers of management consultants employed by the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration and the Northern Ireland Office excluding agencies and non-departmental bodies in each of the last three years.

Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

Angela Smith: Information on contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to Northern Ireland Departments is not held centrally and could be obtained only from individual Departments at disproportionate cost. However, the annual statutory EU Statistical Survey on the award of public sector contracts shows that the following contractors from other EU member states were awarded EU regulated contracts by Northern Ireland Departments during the period 1 January 2004 to 31 March 2005:
	Republic of Ireland:
	Komex,
	Accenture,
	James Boylan Ltd,
	JVA Analytical, and
	Timberjack Ireland.
	Sweden:
	Avure Technologies AB.

Councils (Employees/Assets)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time people are employed in each of the 26 councils within Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The most up-to-date record of district council staff numbers is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 District council Full-time employees Part-time employees(73) 
		
		
			 Antrim 208 70 
			 Ards 299 82 
			 Armagh 213 48 
			 Ballymena 129 18 
			 Ballymoney 89 31 
			 Banbridge 156 32 
			 Belfast 1,810 549 
			 Carrickfergus 152 44 
			 Castlereagh 216 64 
			 Coleraine 251 48 
			 Cookstown 126 68 
			 Craigavon 380 60 
			 Derry 449 109 
			 Down 236 54 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 80 36 
			 Fermanagh 212 31 
			 Larne 146 13 
			 Limavady 110 32 
			 Lisburn 455 6 
			 Magherafelt 121 76 
			 Moyle 101 13 
			 Newry and Mourne 367 32 
			 Newtownabbey 281 181 
			 North Down 301 152 
			 Omagh 249 172 
			 Strabane 141 11 
			 Total 7,278 2,032 
		
	
	(73)Part-time denotes anyone working fewer than 30 hours per week, including job sharers.

Councils (Employees/Assets)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) estimated cost and (b) insurance value of the assets held by each district council in Northern Ireland are.

Angela Smith: The estimated cost or insurance value of individual district councils' assets are not held by the Department of the Environment. However, councils' assets are professionally valued every five years and the most up-to-date figures available, which have been extracted from councils' 2003–04 accounts, are reflected in the following table.
	
		£
		
			 District council Total fixed assets at 31 March 2005 
		
		
			 Antrim 21,739,440 
			 Ards 36,684,156 
			 Armagh 42,480,657 
			 Ballymena 47,392,975 
			 Ballymoney 16,501,063 
			 Banbridge 26,339,822 
			 Belfast 333,154,418 
			 Carrickfergus 32,927,464 
			 Castlereagh 37,893,870 
			 Coleraine 65,910,444 
			 Cookstown 19,895,515 
			 Craigavon 43,961,402 
			 Derry 79,327,657 
			 Down 24,112,223 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 21,177,496 
			 Fermanagh 34,182,741 
			 Larne 31,379,779 
			 Limavady 20,395,245 
			 Lisburn 71,322,613 
			 Magherafelt 19,248,457 
			 Moyle 22,001,161 
			 Newry & Mourne 52,595,245 
			 Newtownabbey 100,688,863 
			 North Down 70,761,938 
			 Omagh 27,322,234 
			 Strabane 9,669,175 
			 Total 1,309,066,053

Departmental Land

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what land his Department (a) is offering for sale, lease-back or similar disposal and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months; and what the (i)location, (ii) size and (iii) best estimate of value is in each case.

Angela Smith: It is not possible to provide the information requested in respect of the next 12 calendar months. However, as departmental property strategies are closely aligned with overall financial planning, details of the land proposed for disposal by the Northern Ireland Office, the eleven Departments of the Northern Ireland Administration and their agencies during the current financial year are given in the following table:
	
		
			 Address Size Value (£) 
		
		
			 Randalstown Road (plot A Castle Road), Antrim 4.35 Acres n/k 
			 
			 23 Steeple Road, Antrim 0.26 Acres 44,000 
			 
			 77 Riverside, Pigeon Hill, Antrim 2.76 Acres 825,000 
			 
			 Birchill Road/Ballygore Road, Antrim—plots 15 and 16 27.49 Acres 2,530,000 
			 
			 Nursery Park, Antrim 0.62 Acres 137,500 
			 
			 Land at Caulside—58A New Lodge Road, Antrim 1.13 Acres 5,500 
			 
			 Culnafeigh Green, Antrim 0.04 Acres 22,000 
			 
			 Land adjacent to St. Judes, 4 Ballycraigy Road, Muckamore 0.03 Acres 1,000 
			 
			 Plot B Castle Road, Antrim—Cyc le Lane to Roads Service 2.02 Acres 5,150 
			 
			 Riverside Walkway, Antrim 40.82 Acres (74)1 
			 
			 The Steeple, Antrim 0.039 Acres 1,000 
			 
			 Land at junction of Belfast Road/Fountain Hill, Antrim 1.14 Acres (74)1 
			 
			 Bridge Street, Ballymena House — 60,000 
			 
			 Land at Tullygarley—Dunluce Park, Ballymena 4.9 Acres 50,000 
			 
			 18 Antrim Road, Ballymena 0.16 Acres 8,000 
			 
			 Land at Ballee Road West, Ballymena 0.83 Acres 50,000 
			 
			 Larne Road, Ballymena 0.56 Acres (74)1 
			 
			 Woodside Road, Ballymena 1.371 Acres 80,000 
			 
			 Laneway at Old Antrim Road, Ballymena 0.68 Acres 20,000 
			 
			 Charlestown Road/New Charlestown Road, Portadown 30 Acres 1,800,000 
			 
			 Lands adjacent to Drumgor Park, Craigavon 1.072 Acres n/k 
			 
			 Portadown Road, 1 Ballynamoney Lane, Lurgan 13.76 Acres 4,000,000 
			 Lands at Ballinacor, Portadown 4.98 Acres 40,000 
			 
			 Encroachment of lands at Upper Ramone/Bocombra, Portadown (540 sq m) 0.133 Acres (74)1 
			 
			 Cycleway at Pinebank, Craigavon 0.320 Acres 900 
			 
			 Lands adjacent. to 70 Silverwood Road, Lurgan 9.67 Acres 300,000 
			 
			 Lands at Eastway, Craigavon 13.5 Acres 450,000 
			 
			 Lands adjacent to 81 Kernan Gardens, Portadown 0.066 Acres 1,000 
			 
			 Land at Franklyn Park, Lurgan 3. 32 Acres 175,000 
			 
			 Encroachment of land adjacent to Franklyn Park, Lurgan (53 sq m) 0.013 Acres (74)1 
			 
			 Lands adjacent to Seagoe Cemetery, Seagoe Road, Portadown 0.462 Acres n/k 
			 
			 Lands at Drumgask, Craigavon 6.8 Acres 15,000 
			 
			 Craigavon Balancing Lakes—none available — — (74)— 
			 
			 B2 Silverwood Junction, Lurgan 0.810 Acres (74)— 
			 
			 Plot 4, Rodgers Quay, Carrickfergus — — 70,000 
			 
			 Lonsdale Road, Armagh — — (74)— 
			 
			 Car Park, Coleraine — — 2,500,000 
			 
			 Linenhall Street, Ballymoney 0.13 Hectares n/k 
			 
			 Land at rear of 17a Market Street, Lurgan — — n/k 
			 
			 Slater's Cross, Belleek — — (74)— 
			 
			 Car Park at Cliff Road, Belleek — — 60,000 
			 
			 Upper North Street, Carrickfergus — — 25,000 
			 
			 Former Railway Track, Coalisland
			 Site A 4.39 Acres 16,000 
			 Site C 2.53 Acres n/k 
			 
			 Union Place, Dungannon
			 Site 3 0.0034 Hectares 250 
			 Site 5 0.0038 Hectares 250 
			 Site 8 0.0475 Hectares 1,000 
			 Sites 9 and 10 0.0306 Hectares 700 
			 
			 11 Market Square, Dungannon 0.0026 Hectares 250 
			 
			 Eden Street, Enniskillen 0.007 Hectares 80,000 
			 
			 Land adjacent to Durham Street/Durham Court, Belfast 0.067 Hectares 70,000 
			 
			 124–138 Peters Hill, Belfast 0.060 Hectares 99,750 
			 
			 357–361 Donegall Road, Belfast 0.03 Hectares 168,000 
			 
			 339–343 Donegall Road, Belfast 0.22 Hectares 625,000 
			 
			 183–191 Beersbridge Road, Belfast 0.020 Hectares 152,250 
			 
			 211–217 Beersbridge Road, Belfast 0.020 Hectares 78,750 
			 
			 155–157 Newtownards/Ards Road, Tower Street, Belfast 0.0984 Hectares 36,750 
			 
			 68–72 Newtownards Road, Belfast 0.19 Hectares 420,000 
			 
			 2A Adam Street, Belfast 0.02205 Hectares 76,125 
			 
			 118–120 Antrim Road, Belfast 0.040 Hectares 199,500 
			 127 Ballygomartin Road, Belfast 0.0694 Hectares 31,500 
			 
			 181 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast 0.0107 Hectares 8,400 
			 
			 126–130 Sandy Row and 39–49 Albion Street, Belfast 0.355 Hectares 767,500 
			 
			 Land at Lenamore, Londonderry 0.369 Hectares 275,000 
			 
			 Former Donard Special Care School, Banbridge 1.0 Acre 250,000 
			 
			 Lands at Muckamore Abbey Hospital 33 Acres 240,000 
			 
			 5 Annadale Avenue, Belfast 0.32 Acres 600,000 
			 
			 216 Belmont Road, Belfast 0.48 Acres 800,000 
			 
			 Former Glenside Special Care School, Strabane 0.49 Acres 250,000 
			 
			 Lands at Antrim Hospital, Antrim 3.16 Acres 1,100,000 
			 
			 Lands at Riverview Road, Omagh 11. 20 Acres 25,000 
			 
			 Lands at Drumakilly Road, Omagh 4.75 Acres 3,300,000 
			 
			 Desertcreat Farm, Cookstown 105 Hectares 2,000,000 
			 
			 53 Mandeville Avenue, Lisburn 0.200 Hectares 70,000 
			 
			 Tandragee Gate Lodge 0.225 Hectares 90,000 
			 
			 White Water Cottage 0.053 Hectares 6,000 
			 
			 20 Mullyburtian Road, Lisnaskea 0.133 Hectares 60,000 
			 
			 22 Mullyburtian Road, Lisnaskea 0.08 Hectares 65,000 
			 
			 86 Alderwood Road, Mullaghfad 0.06 Hectares 40,000 
			 
			 Craigmore Cam. County Londonderry 0.01 Hectares 200 
			 
			 Slievagh, Portglenone 0.140 Hectares 530 
			 
			 Gortatole, Marlbank, County Fermanagh 110 Hectares 350 
			 
			 Cloghmore, Spring Grove, County Fermanagh 0.37 Hectares 3,500 
			 
			 Shanmullagh, Riversdale, County Fermanagh 0.024 Hectares 4,000 
			 
			 Knockmult, Springwell, County Londonderry 0.242 Hectares 3,500 
			 
			 Drumawillin, Ballycastle 2.30 Hectares 6,000 
			 
			 Tullyhogue Fort, Cookstown 20.5 Hectares 405,000 
			 
			 House at Glenwherry, Ballymena — Hectares 76,000 
			 
			 Land at Lough Melvin 0.15 Hectares 15,000 
			 
			 East Belfast (garden land) 0.013 Hectares 750 
			 
			 Far Railway Paddock, Hillsborough Estate 1.600 Hectares n/k 
		
	
	(74)Nominal.
	Notes:
	1.Where £1 nominal is quoted, the circumstances are typically that the ongoing management costs of or obligation of ownership extinguish any value.
	2.Some properties have yet to be valued and the entries for these are marked as n/k (not known).
	3.Estimates of value are necessarily provisional in nature. They will be subject to ongoing review so that any changes in circumstances, for instance to planning approvals, can be taken into account prior to disposal.
	4.Departments are obliged to keep their property holdings under continual review. Therefore, although the list of properties for disposal is accurate as regards current plans, it may be subject to future amendment.

Education (Appointments/Funding)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the appointments of principals over the past five years, broken down by (a) sector, (b) school type, (c) Education and Library Board and (d) date.

Angela Smith: Full details of principals appointed over the past five years could be supplied only at disproportionate cost. However, a summary is provided in the following table of the 424 principals appointed over the past five years, broken down by (a) sector, (b) school type and (c) Education Library Board.
	
		
			  Controlled Voluntary grammar Catholic maintained Other including grant maintained integrated Totals 
		
		
			 BELB  
			 Nursery 3 — 4 — — 
			 Primary 11 — 15 3 — 
			 Secondary 13 — 12 — — 
			 Total 27 8 31 3 69 
			   
			 WELB  
			 Nursery 6 — 4 — — 
			 Primary 17 — 41 2 — 
			 Secondary 6 — 7 2 — 
			 Total 29 3 52 4 88 
			   
			 NEELB  
			 Nursery 6 — 2 — — 
			 Primary 40 — 30 9 — 
			 Secondary 4 — 6 1 — 
			 Total 50 5 38 10 103 
			   
			 SEELB  
			 Nursery 2 — 2 — — 
			 Primary 19 — 20 6 — 
			 Secondary 13 — 1 3 — 
			 Total 34 4 23 9 70 
			   
			 SELB  
			 Nursery 3 — 3 — — 
			 Primary 20 — 41 6 — 
			 Secondary 8 — 5 — — 
			 Total 31 8 49 6 94 
			   
			 Totals 171 28 193 32 424

Education (Appointments/Funding)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding he allocated to each of the Education and Library Boards for (a) 2005–06 and (b) the three previous financial years; and what the projected or actual overspend or underspend is in each.

Angela Smith: The following table shows the funding (recurrent and capital) allocated to each of the Education and Library Boards by the three funding Departments, Department of Education (DE), Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and Department of Employment and Learning (DEL) in (a) 2005–06 and (b) in the three previous financial years, i.e. 2002–03 to 2004–05.
	
		2005–06 (initial allocation)(75) -- £ million
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB Total 
		
		
			 Recurrent 210.3 269.3 244.7 278.1 233.8 1,236.2 
			 Capital 14.1 18.0 20.6 19.5 18.0 90.2 
			 Total 224.4 287.3 265.3 297.6 251.8 1,326.4 
		
	
	(75)In 2005–06 some £75 million recurrent (mainly earmarked) funding has still to be allocated, along with the Boards' share of the £12.5 million funding package announced on 20 June 2005. Arrangements for the distribution of this £12.5 million are currently under consideration.
	
		2002–03 to 2004–05 (final allocation) -- £ million
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB Total 
		
		
			 2004–05   
			 Recurrent 208.2 261.2 235.3 274.5 284.8 1,264.0 
			 Capital 7.7 14.6 25.8 16.0 21.9 86.0 
			 Total 215.9 275.8 261.1 290.5 306.7 1,350.0 
			
			 2003–04   
			 Recurrent 211.4 265.4 232.9 271.5 258.4 1,239.6 
			 Capital 12.5 13.9 14.3 11.6 13.3 65.6 
			 Total 223.9 279.3 247.2 283.1 271.7 1,305.2 
			
			 2002–03   
			 Recurrent 202.3 246.2 222.5 252.6 234.6 1,158.2 
			 Capital 8.0 12.8 17.8 9.1 12.5 60.2 
			 Total 210.3 259.0 240.3 261.7 247.1 1,218.4 
		
	
	Cumulative sums unspent at 31 March 2005 are as follows. Figure are passed on provisional outturn in 2004–05:
	
		£ million
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB 
		
		
			 Recurrent — 4.7 — 6.9 8.4 
			 Capital 3.4 0.5 1.1 2.4 0.5 
		
	
	Cumulative recurrent overspend at 31 March 2005 based on unaudited 2004–05 accounts is as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			 BELB SEELB 
		
		
			 10.7 20.5

Education Expenditure

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent per head per child in the (a) primary and (b) secondary education sector in Northern Ireland in (i) 2004, (ii) 2000 and (iii)1995.

Angela Smith: The information cannot be provided in the format requested as expenditure on schools by all Funding Authorities is recorded on a financial year basis as opposed to a calendar year basis. However, the following financial year information is available:
	
		£
		
			  Primary per capita Post primary per capita 
		
		
			 1994–95 1,470 2,312 
			 1999–2000 1,989 2,866 
			 2003–04 2,664 3,731 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The information is based on Funding Authorities published Outturn Statements and comprises funding directly allocated to schools through formula funding arrangements and funding directly attributable to schools (e.g. funding spent on rates; teaching and non-teaching redundancies, etc). It does not include expenditure on central services provided by the Education and Library Boards on such areas as home to school transport, school meals and, curriculum advisory support services. Expenditure on those areas cannot be readily apportioned between the primary and post-primary Sectors.
	2.The figures for the primary sector include both the pupils numbers and costs of pupils in nursery classes as expenditure for these pupils cannot be separately identified.
	3.The figures for the post primary sector include both the pupils numbers and costs of pupils in preparatory departments as expenditure for these pupils cannot be separately identified.

Educational Psychologists

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many educational psychologists were employed in the (a) Southern and (b) South Eastern Education and Library Boards in (i) 2004 (ii)2000 and (iii) 1995.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	Southern Education and Library Board (SELB)
	The following are the number of Educational Psychologists employed by the SELB in the years indicated:
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 1995 Not available 
			 2000 22.75 
			 2004 29.31 
		
	
	South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB)
	The following are the number of Educational Psychologists employed by the SEELB in the years indicated:
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
		
		
			 1995 15.66 
			 2000 21 
			 2004 22.8

Educational Psychologists

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for an assessment to be undertaken by an educational psychologists in the (a) Southern and (b) South Eastern Education and Library Board of a child in the primary sector was in 2004–05.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows:
	(a) Southern Education and Library Board
	In 2004–05 the average response time in the primary sector for returning psychological advice, in connection with the statutory assessment process, was within six weeks.
	(b) South Eastern Education and Library Board
	In 2004–05 the average response time in the primary sector for returning psychological advice, in connection with the statutory assessment process, was four weeks.

Electricity Charges

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has held with Northern Ireland Electricity regarding the level of electricity charges in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The level of electricity charges in Northern Ireland is primarily a matter for the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation and Northern Ireland Electricity.
	I plan to meet with representatives of Northern Ireland Electricity in the near future.

Electricity Charges

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the recent assessment published by the Electricity Regulator in Northern Ireland of the price of electricity in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK.

Angela Smith: I concur with the conclusion that the excess generation costs inherited from privatisation are the main reason for the higher electricity prices paid by consumers in Northern Ireland compared to their counterparts in the remainder of the United Kingdom.
	I also accept that the excess generation costs are likely to be of the order stated. However, the average cost per household is probably overstated given the proportion of the excess costs borne by other non-household consumers.
	The Government are pursuing a number of options to reduce electricity costs.

English Language Support

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidelines his Department issues to Education and Library Boards regarding the provision of English as an additional language support.

Angela Smith: Under Article 6 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland Order) 1986, Education and Library Boards are required to afford for all pupils opportunities for education offering such variety of instruction and training as may be desirable in view of their different ages, abilities and aptitudes, including practical instruction and training appropriate to their respective needs.
	The Department is in the early stages of developing a policy for EAL. Equality issues will be considered during the development of the policy and full and meaningful consultation will take place with all interested parties throughout the development process.
	A new policy should be developed by September 2006.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: Promoting equality and diversity are fundamental principles underpinning the functions of each of the 11 Departments in the Northern Ireland administration and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), and are mainstreamed into departmental processes and decision making. It would not therefore be possible to apportion costs to these activities with any degree of accuracy. However, we estimate that in the 11 Departments of the Northern Ireland administration and NIO there were approximately 135 full-time equivalent (FTE) officials involved wholly or mainly in promoting equality and diversity at a total cost of approximately £4.3 million. The corresponding figure for NIO shows that there were approximately eight FTE officials at a cost of approximately £305,000.
	In addition, the budget for the Equality Directorate of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister for delivery of services relating to equality, diversity and good relations the last year was approximately £29 million, including funding for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Community Relations Council and the office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People. The Department for Culture Arts and Leisure had a programme budget relating to diversity of £5.3 million last year.

Family and Child Care Services

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding arrangements for family and child care services in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: There has been very significant investment in the Pre-school Expansion programme, the Sure Start programme and a range of other child care provisions throughout Northern Ireland. Further investment is required to ensure that every child has the best start in life and this will be a priority in future budget allocations.

Farmers (Bankruptcies)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bankruptcies of farmers in Northern Ireland there were in each of the last 15 years; what percentage of the total number of farmers this represented in each year; and what the percentage change in bankruptcies was in each year.

Angela Smith: Bankruptcies of farmers in Northern Ireland from year ending 31 March 1996 to year ending 31 March 2005:
	
		
			 Number of bankruptcies in year ending 31 March Number of farm businesses(76) Number of bankruptcy orders made(77) Percentage of bankruptcies to farm businesses Percentage change in bankruptcies 
		
		
			 1996 32,630 22 0.07 n/a 
			 1997 32,118 10 0.03 -54.5 
			 1998 31,817 23 0.07 +130.0 
			 1999 31,132 23 0.07 No change 
			 2000 29,891 12 0.04 -47.8 
			 2001 29,818 22 0.07 +83.3 
			 2002 28,513 9 0.03 -59.0 
			 2003 28,281 10 0.03 +11.2 
			 2004 27,614 16 0.06 +60.0 
			 2005  Figure not available 18  —  +12.5 
		
	
	(76)The figures in column 2 were supplied by DARD and relate to the number of farm businesses in operation in Northern Ireland each year. The figure for 2005 is not yet available. The statistical definition of an operational farm used for this answer is as follows. All active farm businesses having one hectare or more of farmed land, whether owned, leased or taken in conacre, and those with under one hectare having any cattle, sheep or pigs or with significant poultry or horticultural activity. Landowners who lease out or rent out in conacre all of their land are not included."
	(77)These figures are based on the Standard Industrial Classification of agriculture e.g. arable and livestock farming, horticulture and all related services", and by definition therefore not all the people declared bankrupt under this classification could be regarded as farmers.

Flags

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many flags have been removed by Police Service Northern Ireland officers in each police district in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The PSNI have confirmed that verifiable statistics regarding the removal of flags by the PSNI are not currently available. The PSNI have advised that they have written to the Policing Board on this matter and await a response.

Flats above Shops

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in encouraging the use of flats above shops in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Housing Executive has now written to all district councils in Northern Ireland asking them to submit applications for 'Town Centre Living Initiative Areas' by the end of September 2005. It is anticipated that up to five new areas will be declared each year and the first of these is expected to be announced early in 2006.

Fostering Payments

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much a foster family in Northern Ireland received for each child fostered in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is detailed in the following tables.
	
		Basic fostering allowances April 2000–05 (per annum)(78)
		
			  Age bands 
			  0–4 5–10 11–15 16+ 
		
		
			 2000 3,137.68 3,822 4,586.40 6137.04 
			 2001 3,239.60 3,949.40 4,739.28 6,340.88 
			 2002 3,538.08 4,033.12 5,019.56 6,359.08 
			 2003 3,716.44 4,233.32 5,270.72 6,675.76 
			 2004 3,811.08 4,338.88 5,401.76 6,843.20 
			 2005 3,905.72 4,448.08 5,536.44 7,014.28 
		
	
	(78)At March 2005 HSS trusts reported that 215 foster carers received enhanced allowances in respect of children with additional needs and 254 carers (18 per cent.) of foster carers received in additional to allowances a salary (around £11,000).
	Basic fostering allowances
	These include provision for the following:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Food (including school meals) 40 
			 Household costs 25 
			 Clothing and footwear 18 
			 Pocket money 10 
			 Travel cost 7 
		
	
	Extra allowances
	There are four types of extra allowances:
	automatic e.g. holidays and outings, birthdays, Christmas, retainer fees, disposal nappies and more than one child allowance;
	full cost e.g. school holidays, setting up costs, school activities and tuition; glasses
	up to a maximum e.g. initial clothing allowance; musical instruments, bicycle and cultural events;
	exceptional circumstances e.g. to meet additional costs associated with implementing a child's care plan.
	
		Total boarding out payments made to foster carers
		
			 End of year Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2001 (79)— 
			 2002 (79)— 
			 2003 14,768,000 
			 2004 17,030,000 
			 2005 (80)— 
		
	
	(79)Previous returns from HSS trusts do not enable the separate disaggregation of fostering payments.
	(80)Not yet available.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Peter Hain: The Department for Constitutional Affairs is committed to publishing quarterly updates in relation to departmental performance under FOI, including information on both the volume and outcomes of requests. The first of these updates was published on 23 June 2005 and can be found on the DCA website at http://www.foi.gov.uk/statsjan-mar05.htm and in the House Library. The next bulletin is due in the autumn of this year, while an annual report is also published in early 2006.
	Between 1 January 2005 and 31 March 2005 the Northern Ireland Office had received 80 Freedom of Information requests, of which 14 were wholly exempted, 18 partly exempted and 14 were granted in full.
	The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister published statistics on the performance of the 11 Northern Ireland Departments under the Freedom of Information Act on 23 June 2005. The following table extracts information from these statistics and covers requests received between 1 January to 31 March 2005. The next statistical update, for the second quarter of the year, is due in the autumn.
	
		
			 Department Requests received Requests refused in full Requests refused in part Requests answered in full 
		
		
			 Agriculture and Rural Development 88 16 10 59 
			 Culture, Arts and Leisure 423 5 6 404 
			 Education 34 2 4 26 
			 Employment and Learning 27 2 1 22 
			 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 19 1 4 14 
			 Environment 218 15 45 141 
			 Finance and Personnel 131 7 21 99 
			 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 37 1 3 32 
			 Regional Development 126 1 3 111 
			 Social Development 58 7 8 42 
			 First and Deputy First Minister 31 1 0 28 
			 Total 1,192 58 105 978

Freedom of Information

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many freedom of information requests have been (a) received and (b) refused by each Northern Ireland Department since the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Angela Smith: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister published statistics on the performance of Northern Ireland Departments under the Freedom of Information Act on 23 June 2005. The following table extracts information from these statistics and covers requests received between 1 January 2005 and 31 March 2005. The next statistical update, for the second quarter of the year, is due in the autumn.
	
		Freedom of information
		
			 Department Requests received Requests refused in full Requests refused in part 
		
		
			 Agriculture and Rural Development 88 16 10 
			 Culture, Arts and Leisure 423 5 6 
			 Education 34 2 4 
			 Employment and Learning 27 2 1 
			 Enterprise, Trade and Investment 19 1 4 
			 Environment 131 7 21 
			 Finance and Personnel 37 1 3 
			 Health, Social Services and Public Safety 218 15 45 
			 Regional Development 126 1 3 
			 Social Development 58 7 8 
			 First Minister and Deputy First Minister 31 1 0 
			 Totals 1,192 58 105 
		
	
	For the same period, the Northern Ireland Office had received 80 requests, of which 14 had been refused in full and 18 refused in part.

General Grant Funding

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding the Government have provided to each district council in Northern Ireland through the resources element of the general grant factor.

Angela Smith: The resources element of general grant allocated to district councils for 2005–2006 is set out in the following table.
	
		General grant—resources element -- £
		
			 District council 2005–06 
		
		
			 Antrim 0 
			 Ards 1,255,948 
			 Armagh 1,783,504 
			 Ballymena 0 
			 Ballymoney 1,052,084 
			 Banbridge 953,758 
			 Belfast 0 
			 Carrickfergus 264,650 
			 Castlereagh 0 
			 Coleraine 0 
			 Cookstown 972,907 
			 Craigavon 0 
			 Derry 1,276,683 
			 Down 1,683,189 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 930,916 
			 Fermanagh 1,437,935 
			 Larne 24,202 
			 Limavady 1,308,476 
			 Lisburn 0 
			 Magherafelt 1,466,528 
			 Moyle 585,645 
			 Newry and Mourne 2,043,239 
			 Newtownabbey 0 
			 North Down 0 
			 Omagh 1,407,084 
			 Strabane 2,050,252 
			 Total 20,497,000

GPs

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many GPs in Northern Ireland have been struck off the medical register in each of the last five years, broken down by region or board.

Shaun Woodward: There have been no general practitioners (GPs) struck off the medical register, in each of the last five years in Northern Ireland.

Heart By-pass Operations

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were waiting for a heart by-pass operation on the latest date for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: At 30 June 2005, there were 276 patients in Northern Ireland waiting for a heart by-pass operation.

Homelessness

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the most recent estimate is of the level of hidden homelessness in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a duty under the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 to deal with homelessness. During 2004–05, the Housing Executive accepted a total of 8,470 applicants as meeting the statutory criteria for re-housing under the homelessness legislation. However, the Housing Executive is not in a position to estimate the number of persons who may be homeless in Northern Ireland but do not apply for re-housing.

Homelessness

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes the Government have made to the eligibility of homeless people for accommodation in Northern Ireland since 2000.

David Hanson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has made the following orders:
	1.Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) Order 2000 which provides that persons from abroad who are subject to immigration control are eligible for accommodation under the homelessness legislation if they have refugee status or certain other forms of leave to enter or remain in the UK.
	2.Article 137 of the Housing (NI) Order 2003 inserted a new Article 7A in the Housing (NI) Order 1988 which provides that a homeless person is not eligible for accommodation if:
	(a) he, or a member of his household, has been guilty of unacceptable behaviour serious enough to make him unsuitable to be a tenant of the Housing Executive and, in the circumstances at the time his application is considered, he is unsuitable to be a tenant of the Housing Executive by reason of that behaviour;
	(b) he is a person who is subject to immigration control and is ineligible for accommodation by virtue of section 119 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (i.e. he does not belong to a group specified in the Persons subject to Immigration Control (Housing Authority Accommodation and Homelessness) Order 2000); or
	(c) he is any other person from abroad who is ineligible for accommodation by virtue of regulations made by the Secretary of State.
	3.Homelessness Regulations (NI) 2004 which provide that a homeless person is not eligible for accommodation if:
	(a) he is not habitually resident in the common travel area comprising the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (certain groups, e.g. persons treated as workers" for the purposes of European legislation, are exempt from this provision); or
	(b) his right to reside in the common travel area is derived from certain European directives which apply to people whose right to reside in the UK is conditional on them being self-sufficient and not claiming social assistance.

Hospital Beds

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) intensive care and (b) high dependency beds there were in Northern Ireland hospitals in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: Intensive care and high dependency unit beds form part of the service supplied in the acute sector of care.
	The number of intensive care unit beds (ICU) and high dependency unit beds (HDU) in each hospital in each of the last three years is displayed in the following table.
	
		
			  Position at 31 March 
			  2003 2004 2005 
			 Hospital ICU HDU ICU HDU ICU HDU 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin 5 5 5 5 5 5 
			 Belfast City 7 5 7 5 7 5 
			 Causeway 2 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Craigavon Area 6 2 6 2 6 2 
			 Lagan Valley 0 2 0 2 0 2 
			 Mater 2 3 2 3 2 3 
			 Daisy Hill 0 5 0 5 0 5 
			 Royal Victoria 15 5 17 8 17 8 
			 Erne 0 6 0 6 3 4 
			 Tyrone County 0 2 0 2 0 2 
			 Antrim 6 2 6 2 6 2 
			 Mid Ulster 0 3 0 3 0 3 
			 Whiteabbey 0 0 0 2 0 2 
			 Ulster 6 4 6 4 6 4 
			 Total 49 46 51 51 54 49 
		
	
	In addition to those beds included in the previous table, there are a number of critical care beds held for a specific purpose. These are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Position at 31 March 
			  2003 2004 2005 
			 Type of critical care bed/hospital ICU HDU ICU HDU ICU HDU 
		
		
			 Post-operative beds at Musgrave Park 0 12 0 14 0 14 
			 Cardiac Surgery beds at the Royal Victoria 9 4 9 4 9 4 
			 Paediatric beds at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 7 2 7 2 7 2 
			 Total 16 18 16 20 16 20 
		
	
	The Royal Victoria hospital is funded for eight ICU and six HDU cardiac surgery beds. The figures in the previous table reflect the numbers and types of beds available at a particular point in time. The numbers and types of beds may vary as nurses are used interchangeably depending on the needs of the patients who are in the unit at the time.

Hospital Beds

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average daily cost of (a) an intensive care and (b) a high dependency bed in Northern Ireland was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The latest available costs are for the financial year 2003–04 and show that a bed in an intensive care unit cost £1,670 per day on average and a bed in a high dependency unit cost £610 per day on average.

Invest NI

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many individuals are employed by Invest NI.

Angela Smith: Invest NI currently employs 661 staff (30 June 2005), of whom 54 are part-time. This represents a full-time equivalent staffing of 640.
	Invest NI also engages a varying number of contracted staff in its overseas offices and also to deliver specific programmes in Northern Ireland. These currently number 37 in total and are funded separately.

Invest NI

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what staff costs have been occurred by Invest NI in each year since it was established.

Angela Smith: Staff costs incurred by Invest NI are as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Amounts paid to staff Employers contributions for superannuation and national insurance Total staff costs(81) 
		
		
			 2002–03 15,595,000 3,245,000 18,840,000 
			 2003–04 17,010,000 3,524,000 20,534,000 
			 2004–05 17,205,000 3,615,000 20,820,000 
		
	
	(81)These figures do not include the costs of locally engaged staff in overseas offices. (In 2004–05 these costs amounted to £423,000).

Landfill

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much each district council in Northern Ireland has budgeted to spend on landfill for 2005–06; and what the expenditure was in (a) 1985–86 and (b) 1995–96.

Angela Smith: The information requested is not held centrally and because of the period of time covered and the number of separate bodies involved, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Learndirect

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the learndirect network in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Funding for Ufi/learndirect in its present form in Northern Ireland will cease on 31 March 2006.
	My officials are currently working on a new, broader e-learning strategy, which will be issued for consultation in October 2005. The learndirect centre network will be given the opportunity to identify how they can assist with the delivery of this strategy through a re-alignment of their services.

Library Book Borrowing

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many books were borrowed from each publicly funded library in Northern Ireland in 2004–05.

David Hanson: The information requested has been placed in the Library. Figures are included for the nine libraries which recently closed in the North Eastern Education and Library Board. This data exclude books issued from mobile libraries.

Lifeguards

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what requirements he is introducing on those council areas that do not provide emergency life savers along their beaches.

Angela Smith: The employment of life-savers and life guards is a matter for individual district councils to determine. There are no plans to direct councils to provide this service.

Loan Sharks

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to assist those who are victims of loan sharks, with particular reference to those whose cases have passed through the courts.

Angela Smith: The Consumer Credit Bill reflects a Government commitment to tackle loan sharks". The Bill modernises the consumer credit market and makes it much easier for consumers to challenge unfair loan agreements. It will provide a new right to challenge unfair relationships arising out of the terms of loan agreements and the way in which the lender acts. Borrowers will also have the right to take disputes with their lenders to an Ombudsman Service without going through a lengthy and expensive court battle.

Management Consultants

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the total expenditure saved in each of the last three years as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultancies within his Department.

Angela Smith: No central estimate has been made of the total expenditure saved as a result of implementing recommendations by management consultants within the NI Departments over the last three years. However, Departments are required to complete a Post Project Evaluation which, in line with Treasury requirements, must include a benefits realisation assessment. These requirements apply to all policies/projects and policies, including those involving Management Consultants, and are the responsibility of individual Departments.

Mobile Phones/Laptops

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) mobile telephones and (b) laptops have been issued to (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) officials in Northern Ireland Government Departments in each of the last eight years; what costs were incurred; and how many have been (A)lost and (B) stolen during that period.

Angela Smith: The information requested by the hon. Lady is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Myasthenia Gravis

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support he is providing for people diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Myasthenia Gravis is a rare neuromuscular condition which responds well to medical management. Around 20 to 30 patients with Myasthenia Gravis are managed at any one time by the neurology team based at the Royal Group of Hospitals Trust where one of the consultant staff has a special interest in this condition.
	Patients are advised about the charity, the Myasthenia Gravis Association, which has branches in Belfast, Lurgan and Omagh.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will be applied in full by the Northern Ireland Health Service.

Shaun Woodward: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is putting in place arrangements for reviewing the applicability of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance to the Health and Personal Social Services in Northern Ireland. Under the new arrangements, which are expected to be fully operational from early 2006, the Department will endorse NICE guidance that is deemed to be applicable for Northern Ireland.

NHS (Agency Staff)

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to reduce the use of agency staff in the national health service in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual health and social services trusts, taking into account factors such as needs and available resources. While the use of agency staff, particularly in nursing, is necessary to ensure continuity of services, the Department wishes to reduce the current levels and is working to address this issue.
	The Department is introducing pay modernisation through Agenda for Change to make working as an employee of the HPSS more attractive. In particular, we have increased the number of nurses in training by over 60 per cent. over recent years. As a result, it is expected that this investment in additional student nurses will reduce the number of agency staff required.

Nursing Homes

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average charge per week for persons in nursing homes in Northern Ireland was in the last period for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: The Department collects information on the total spend by trusts on nursing home care per occupied week of care. This information is broken down by Programme of Care and is collected through trust financial returns. The mean average weekly costs were as follows for 2003–04:
	
		Nursing homes—charges
		
			  2003–04 
			 Service Number of occupied resident weeks Mean average weekly cost (£) 
		
		
			 Nursing Care POC 5—mental health 13,052 444 
			 Nursing Care POC 6—learning disability 32,586 521 
			 Nursing Care POC 7—physical and sensory disability 14,998 498 
			 Nursing Care POC 4 EMI—elderly mentally infirm 84,628 423 
			 Nursing Care POC 4 Other—elderly 242,315 423

Nursing Homes

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many private care home beds there are in each Northern Ireland constituency.

Shaun Woodward: The number of places in care homes is not recorded according to parliamentary constituency. Information on the number of places in private care homes is also not collected centrally. Information is, however, available on the number of places in all independent (private and voluntary) sector care homes, by health and social services trust area, and is shown in the following table for the position at 31 March 2004, the latest date for which such information is available centrally.
	
		Places in independent (private and voluntary) care homes, Northern Ireland, 31 March 2004
		
			 HSS trust Residential home places Nursing home places Total places 
		
		
			 Down Lisburn 413 936 1,349 
			 North and West Belfast 237 816 1,053 
			 South and East Belfast 618 1,105 1,723 
			 Ulster 476 977 1,453 
			 Causeway 297 390 687 
			 Homefirst 394 1,877 2,271 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 156 737 893 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge 92 518 610 
			 Newry and Mourne 232 503 735 
			 Foyle 322 734 1,056 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 325 719 1,044 
			 Northern Ireland 3,562 9,312 12,874 
		
	
	Note:
	Places in children's homes are excluded. Dual registered places (places registered for both residential and nursing care) are included in nursing home places but excluded from residential home places.

Parades

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which parades in Northern Ireland require a Police Service of Northern Ireland presence.

Shaun Woodward: The PSNI have advised that an assessment to identify a need for a PSNI presence at any parade would be dependant on the individual circumstances of any such prevailing parade.

Pension Credit

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of pensioner households in Northern Ireland are in receipt of pension credit.

David Hanson: The number of pension credit households is open to interpretation. One is for households which equates to the number of residencies. The other takes account of the number of benefit families (i.e. single individual, couple).
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Households (residencies) claiming pension credit 86,404 
			 Households (benefit families) claiming pension credit 91,199 
		
	
	As no baseline figure for the number of pensioner households is available, the percentage of Northern Ireland pensioner households who are in receipt of pension credit is unavailable. However, the number of individuals in receipt of state retirement pension is 268,352. The data are taken from June 2005.

Planning Legislation

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to review Planning Policy Statement 1.

Angela Smith: The review of Planning Policy Statement 1 is scheduled to commence in the current business year.

Planning Legislation

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the timetable for the introduction of new planning legislation arising from the Reforming Planning Consultation conducted in November 2004 is; and what the (a) timetable and (b) process for consultation for this legislation is;
	(2)  what plans he has to introduce a sustainable development statutory purpose for planning.

Angela Smith: Following the Reforming Planning Consultation, the Department of the Environment intends to issue draft legislation for further public consultation in the autumn. It is intended this will include a statutory requirement for development plan functions to be carried out with the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. It is anticipated the legislation will be enacted by spring 2006.

Post Office Closures

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met representatives from unions to discuss the closure of post offices in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: There have been no meetings between Northern Ireland Ministers and union representatives to discuss post office closures nor am I aware of any request for such a meeting.

Premature Baby Units

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many infants have been treated in each premature baby unit in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years.

Shaun Woodward: Information on the number of infants treated in neo-natal units in Northern Ireland hospitals is available from each trust providing the facility and is outlined in the following table.
	
		
			 Hospital 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Royal Maternity Hospital 669 681 581 513 495 
			 Ulster Hospital 257 272 290 228 278 
			 Antrim Area Hospital 266 232 251 213 240 
			 Daisy Hill Hospital 208 202 183 230 199 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital 271 240 233 228 256 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 338 325 264 253 265 
			 Erne Hospital 155 130 130 128 107 
			 All hospitals 2,164 2,082 1,932 1,793 1,840

PSNI

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Protestants and (b) Roman Catholics have applied to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each of the past four years; and how many were successful in each case.

Shaun Woodward: I am advised of the following statistics for PSNI trainee constable recruitment competitions over the last four years:
	
		
			 Date (competition) Catholic applicants Non-Catholic applicants Catholic appointments Non-Catholic appointments Comments 
		
		
			 March 2001 (1) 2,582 4,936 153 152 Campaign closed 
			 September 2001 (2) 1,892 3,018 98 98 Campaign closed 
			 March 2002 (3) 1,640 3,034 83 83 Campaign closed 
			 September 2002 (4) 1,485 2,894 201 201 Campaign closed 
			 March 2003 (5) 2,196 3,836 149 150 One further appointment to be made 
			 September 2003 (6) 1,908 3,497 148 147 One further appointment to be made 
			 March 2004 (7) 1,712 3,265 110 115 Appointments ongoing 
			 September 2004 (8) 1,986 3,709 — — First intake August 2005 
			 March 2005 (9) 2,065 4,045 — — Campaign ongoing 
			 Total 17,466 32,234 942 946

Radiographers

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many radiographers have been employed in the NHS in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Number of radiographers employed in HPSS
		
			 As at 31 March Headcount WTE(82) 
		
		
			 1997 458 394.7 
			 1998 454 386.1 
			 1999 480 405.6 
			 2000 484 413.6 
			 2001 496 432.9 
			 2002 519 451.2 
			 2003 558 488.5 
			 2004 590 510.8 
			 2005 617 543.1 
		
	
	(82)Whole-time equivalent
	Source:
	Human Resource Management System

Rail Services

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to improve rail services in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Some £124 million is been provided for rail investment in Northern Ireland over the period 2005–06 to 2007–08. This includes funding for the lesser used lines, where £17 million will be spent over the next five years. Significant funding has already been provided to purchase 23 new train sets (£80 million), 20 of which are now in service, already providing improved frequency of services in the central corridor between Bangor and Portadown. Other major investment projects include the relay of track between Bleach Green and Whitehead (£25 million) and the provision of a train cleaning and stabling facility at Fortwilliam (£11.4 million).

Road Fund Tax

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of current levels of evasion of the road fund tax in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: A survey undertaken in mid 2004 estimated that 10 per cent. of revenue was lost due to vehicle excise duty evasion. This equates to £13 million.
	The 2005 UK wide survey is currently under way and results will be available later this year.

Royal Victoria Hospital

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the bed capacity is of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Shaun Woodward: The current bed capacity of the Royal Victoria Hospital is 750.

Urology

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) average and (b) longest current waiting time for an initial urology outpatient assessment is at each trust in the Province which offers this specialty.

Shaun Woodward: Earlier this month I announced a radical reform programme that will reduce waiting lists to more acceptable levels and eradicate long waiters. Changes to the way in which outpatient services are organised will be introduced which will significantly reduce the length of time patients have to wait for an initial appointment.
	Information is not readily available on average waiting times, but the following table provides details of the longest time in days a patient has been waiting for initial outpatient assessment in the urology specialty. The latest information available is representative of the position at 30 June 2005.
	
		Longest waiting time (in days) that an individual is waiting for an initial outpatient assessment in the urology specialty at 30 June 2005 -- Number of days
		
			 Provider Trust Longest Waiting 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 770 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 806 
			 Causeway HSS Trust (83)871 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust 2,542 
			 Down Lisburn HSS Trust (83)126 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 345 
			 Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust 90 
		
	
	(83)Causeway HSS Trust and Down Lisburn HSS Trust figures refer to patients waiting at 31 May 2005.

Urology

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) average and (b) longest current waiting time is for in-patient surgery in the urology specialty within each trust in the Province which offers this service.

Shaun Woodward: Earlier this month I announced a radical reform programme that will reduce waiting lists to more acceptable levels and eradicate long waiters. By March 2006, no patient should be waiting more than 12 months for in-patient or day case treatment. Maximum waiting time targets have also been set for major joint replacement (nine months), cataract surgery (nine months) and cardiac surgery (nine months).
	Information is not readily available on average waiting times, but the following table provides details of the longest time in days a patient has been waiting for in-patient admission to the urology specialty. The latest information available is representative of the position at 31 May 2005.
	
		Longest waiting time (in days) that an individual is waiting for in-patient admission in the urology specialty at 31 May 2005
		
			 Provider trust Longest waiting (in days) 
		
		
			 Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust (84)658 
			 Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust 2,191 
			 Causeway HSS Trust 297 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust (84)3,409 
			 Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust 406 
		
	
	(84)Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust and Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust figures refer to patients waiting at 30 June 2005.

Victims of Violence

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) paramedics, (b) ambulance staff, (c) nurses, (d) prison officers and (e) fire officers have been victims of offences of violence in the course of their employment in each of the last seven years.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Services advises that it does not record attacks on paramedics and ambulance staff separately. Also, records of attacks were not kept prior to 2000. The numbers of recorded attacks against ambulance service personnel for the calendar years 2000 to 2004 are as follows:
	
		
			  Attacks on ambulance staff 
		
		
			 2000 38 
			 2001 95 
			 2002 122 
			 2003 188 
			 2004 125 
			 Total 568 
		
	
	Attacks on HPSS staff were not monitored prior to April 2004. In the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 there were 1,032 recorded verbal attacks and 2,305 physical attacks on nursing and midwifery staff.
	Recorded attacks on prison officers were as follows:
	
		
			  Attacks on prison officers 
		
		
			 1998 32 
			 1999 70 
			 2000 44 
			 2001 39 
			 2002 33 
			 2003 32 
			 2004 20 
			 Totals 270 
		
	
	The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service advises that recording of attacks on firefighters commenced in September 2001. Figures for each calendar year are as follows:
	
		
			  Attacks on fire officers 
		
		
			 2001(85) 124 
			 2002 410 
			 2003 327 
			 2004 327 
			 Totals 1,188 
		
	
	(85)From September

Water Service (Overpayment)

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken by the WaterService to recover the overpayment made to a contractor for laying a pipe.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Executive of Water Service, Mrs. Katharine Bryan has written to the hon. Gentleman.
	Letter from Mrs. Katharine Bryan to Mr. Eddie McGrady, dated 4 August 2005
	You recently asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland a Parliamentary Question about what action will be taken by the Water Service to recover the overpayment made to a contractor for laying a pipe (16142). I have been asked to reply as this issue falls within my responsibility as Chief Executive of Water Service.
	I am assuming that your question refers to the investigation of suspected fraud in Water Service raised in the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report Departmental Responses to Recommendations in NIAO Reports" published on 19 July 2005. This publication included a progress report on the recovery of an overpayment from a Water Service contractor.
	Civil proceedings were initiated in 2003 and the matter is sub judice. However, I can assure you that Water Service continues to make every effort to progress the recovery of the monies overpaid.

TREASURY

London Olympics

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of new jobs which will be created in London as a result of hosting the 2012 London Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply.
	We know from the experience of past host cities that the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games can deliver thousands of jobs.
	The socio-economic Assessment produced to support the Olympic and Olympic legacy planning applications concluded that after the Games, the Olympic Park area alone will accommodate 11,270 permanent jobs as a direct result of the Games.
	For the construction of the Olympic Park, venues and legacy facilities, the assessment estimated that 7,000 full-time equivalent construction jobs will be created.
	These estimates do not take into account the other jobs that will be created as a result of the Games in sectors such as tourism, hospitality and food across the rest of London and the UK.
	In addition, up to 70,000 volunteers and an estimated 3,500 operation staff will be needed to deliver the Games.

7 July Bombings

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to London's economy of the bombings on 7 July; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: It is not possible at present to make a firm estimate of the cost to London's and the United Kingdom's economy of the bombings on 7 July. The separation of the impact of the bombing from other variations in the London economy is complex. Furthermore, much of the economic data for the period following the bombing is not yet available.

Automatic Banking Machine

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received from banks about fees for automatic banking machines; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will take steps to abolish fees on automatic banking machines.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury officials regularly discuss issues relating to cash machine charges with members of the banking and financial services industry and other stakeholders. Cash machine charges have also been raised in meetings between Ministers and members of the banking and financial services industry.
	The Government believe that people, particularly those on low incomes, should be able to access their cash free of charge. There are over 30,000 free cash machines in the UK. Over 96 per cent. of ATM withdrawals are made at such machines. Other options for obtaining free access to cash include 'cash back' and, for many account holders, free over-the-counter withdrawals at the Post Office.
	The Government's response to the Treasury Committee's recent report on Cash Machine Charges (the Treasury Committee's Fifth Report of Session 2004–05) was published by the Treasury Committee on 19 July 2005. The response sets out Government policy on the matter in more detail. Like the Treasury Committee, we see charging cash machines as being a legitimate business model. The majority have been introduced recently in locations where previously there was no cash machine and where there would not be a sufficiently high number of transactions to support a free ATM. The Government does not believe there is evidence to suggest that free ATMs are under threat from charging machines as the number of free ATMs in the UK is still increasing. However, if evidence were found of a significant reduction in the number of free ATMs, then the Government would be concerned.

Automatic Banking Machine

Si�n James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the banking and the financial services industry about cash machine charges; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations he has received about cash machine charges.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury officials regularly discuss issues relating to cash machine charges with members of the banking and financial services industry and other stakeholders. Cash machine charges have also been raised in meetings between Ministers and members of the banking and financial services industry. The Government's response to the Treasury Committee's recent report on Cash Machine Charges (the Treasury Committee's Fifth Report of Session 200405) was published by the Treasury Committee on 19 July 2005. The response details Government policy on the matter.

Birth Numbers

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the percentage change in the number of births in each strategic health authority area in London has been over the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Pelling, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for the percentage change in the number of births in each Strategic Health Authority area in London over the last five years. (15595)
	The figures shown in the table below reflect the current boundaries for Strategic Health Authorities which came into force on 1 April 2002.
	
		Percentage change in the number of livebirths in London strategic health authority -- areas, 19992004
		
			 Area 1999 to 2000 2000 to 2001 2001 to 2002 2002 to 2003 2003 to 2004 1999 to 2004 
		
		
			 North West London SHA -0.8 -0.4 2.7 3.6 2.8 8.1 
			 North Central London SHA 1.5 -1.5 1.9 3.9 2.9 8.8 
			 North East London SHA -0.2 1.1 1.6 4.4 -0.2 6.8 
			 South East London SHA -0.7 -2.1 1.2 5.4 2.1 5.9 
			 South West London SHA -3.7 0.2 -1.0 5.7 3.0 4.0 
			 London -0.8 -0.5 1.4 4.6 2.0 6.8 
		
	
	Note:
	The percentage change from 1999 to 2004 is calculated as the difference in the numbers of births in 1999 and in 2004 as a proportion of all births in 1999.
	Source:
	ONS

Budget Document Cost

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of producing the summary leaflet Budget 2005, Investing in Our Future: Fairness and Opportunity of Britain's Hard-working Families; how much of the cost was accounted for by (a) printing and design, (b) copywriting and (c) distribution; how many copies were produced; how many were circulated unsolicited; and to whom.

John Healey: The total cost of producing the 2005 Budget summary leaflet was around 136,000. The printing cost was around 51,000 and the distribution cost was around 85,000. All costs were met from within the Treasury's departmental expenditure limits. There is no specific cost associated with writing the leaflet as it was created alongside the 2005 Budget Red Book.
	The summary leaflet is designed to provide a concise and informative summary of the Budget. It is aimed at a wide audience, and so is distributed to various public organisations such as GPs' surgeries, libraries, post offices, schools and universities. Approximately 1.2 million leaflets were distributed in Budget 2005.

Burmese Goods

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at which (a) ports, (b) airports and (c) other entry points imports of goods from Burma enter the UK; and by what means of transport.

Dawn Primarolo: The list of (a) ports, (b) airports and (c) other entry points through which imports of goods from Burma enter the UK, including their means of transport, are shown in the following table.
	
		Port of import for UK imports from Burma (country of dispatch) by mode of transport at the border: January 2004 to June 2005(86)
		
			 Port of import Mode of transport at the border 
		
		
			 (a) Belfast Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Felixstowe Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Grangemouth Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Immingham Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Kirkaldy Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Liverpool Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 London (inc. Tilbury) Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Medway Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Southampton Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Thamesport Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Tyne Sea vessel (not vehicle on ferry) 
			 Felixstowe Powered vehicle on sea-going vessel 
			 Ramsgate Powered vehicle on sea-going vessel 
			 Southampton Powered vehicle on sea-going vessel 
			   
			 (b) Belfast airport Air transport 
			 Birmingham airport Air transport 
			 Bristol airport Air transport 
			 East Midlands airport Air transport 
			 Glasgow airport Air transport 
			 London Heathrow Air transport 
			 Manchester airport Air transport 
			 Newcastle airport Air transport 
			 Southampton airport Air transport 
			   
			 (c) Postal packages Mail 
		
	
	(86)Figures for 200405 are provisional
	Source:
	Overseas Trade Statistics, HM Revenue and Customs

Capgemini Contract

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected cost of Capgemini's contract to deliver the external routing interface component system for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs was at the time of its signing.

Dawn Primarolo: The external routing interface component system (ERIC) is being delivered as part of the ASPIRE contract that HM Revenue and Customs has with Capgemini. This was signed on 5 January 2004 and commenced on 1 July 2004. Work on ERIC was started by EDS under the Inland Revenue's previous IT contract. ERIC is part of the Modernising PAYE Processes for Customers (MPPC) programme. MPPC is a phased programme and the total business and IT projected costs for phase one, which incorporates ERIC, were 164 million, over six years which includes both the set up and ongoing maintenance costs.
	The business case showed positive savings arise from the take up of on-line filing where staff will be released to work in other areas and make a very significant contribution to the Department's efficiency saving targets.

Carers

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) carers and (b) young carers of school age there are in (i) Suffolk and (ii) the parliamentary constituency of Bury St. Edmunds.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Ruffley, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) carers and (b) young carers of school age there are in (i) Suffolk and (ii) the Parliamentary Constituency of Bury St Edmunds (15126)
	Table 1 below shows the number of people in Suffolk and Bury St Edmunds who were providing unpaid care on Census day (29 April 2001). the data for the county of Suffolk has been taken from table KS08 in Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales. The data for the Parliamentary Constituency of Bury St Edmunds has been taken from table KS08 in the 2001 Census Report for Parliamentary Constituencies. Both of these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.
	We have interpreted the phrase 'young carers of school age' to mean any person providing unpaid care who was aged between 11 and 16 on Census day (29 April 2001). These figures, shown in Table 2 below, were not readily available in published Census data and were therefore drawn directly from the 2001 census databases.
	
		Table 1Number of people in Suffolk and Bury St. Edmunds providing unpaid care, Census day (29 April 2001)
		
			  Area  All people All people who provide unpaid care 
		
		
			 Suffolk 668,553 66,486 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 98,982 9,370 
		
	
	Sources:
	Table KS08 Census 2001 Key Statistics for local authorities in England and Wales and Table KS08 2001 Census Report for Parliamentary Constituencies
	
		Table 2Number of people aged between 11 and 16 in Suffolk and Bury St. Edmunds providing unpaid care, Census day (29 April 2001)
		
			  Area All people aged 1116 All people aged 1116 who provide unpaid care 
		
		
			 Suffolk 50,663 1,100 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 7,160 150 
		
	
	Source:
	2001 Census data.

Civil Servants

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he forecasts the net change in civil service staffing levels to be by April 2008.

Des Browne: The 2004 Spending Review announced that efficiency measures would deliver a gross reduction in civil service and military posts in administrative and support functions of 84,150 posts by April 2008, of which 13,550 posts will be transferred to frontline service delivery. Civil service statistics are also affected by the Government's determination to increase staffing where needed, to deliver key frontline public services such as policing, criminal justice, teaching and healthcare, and by classification changes, such as the recent reclassification of Magistrates Courts Service employees as civil servants rather than local government employees.

Correspondence

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many overpayments of tax credits in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506 to date, have been (i)disputed and (ii) written off; and what the value of the overpayments (A) disputed and (B) written off was in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: For the number of requests received in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him and the hon. Member for Member for Lanark and Hamilton, East (Mr. Hood) on 4 July 2005, Official Report, columns 100W and 107W. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) received around 23,000 requests to write off overpayments of tax credits on the grounds of Official Error in June 2005. Because of the volume of new requests received recently, and the fact that cases are taking longer to deal with than expected, HMRC has been unable to respond to claimants as quickly as it would like, and it is now unlikely that the backlog will be cleared by the end of the summer.
	As to overpayments written off, I refer to the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 6 July 2005, Official Report, column 437W. HMRC wrote off around 49,000 overpayments in June 2005 on the grounds of Official Error.
	Information on the value of disputed tax credits overpayments is not kept.
	For the amounts written off in each year, I refer to my answer's of 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 101W to the hon. Gentleman. HMRC wrote off around 55,734,000 in June 2005.

Correspondence

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic;
	(2)  what facilities his Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

John Healey: The Treasury uses translation services for correspondence received in languages other than English. The Department is able to deal with telephone calls only in English.

Council Tax

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an estimate has been made of the number of appeals likely to arise following the council tax revaluation process; and what funding has been allocated to cover this.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo) gave to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 29 June 2005, Official Report, column 1547W, and to my answer to the hon. Member for Meriden on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 298W.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the staff costs of the Crown Estate's Communication Department were in 200405.

John Healey: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Crown estate
		
			  Financial year  Cost () Number of permanent staff 
		
		
			 200405 131,480 3

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate spent on (a) public relations and (b) corporate hospitality in 200405

John Healey: 443,100 (the non-staff cost of the Communications Department less the cost of production of the Annual Report and Accounts) and 9,570, respectively.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of Crown Estate charges on the Scottish economy; and when he last discussed this with the Crown Estate.

John Healey: We have made no such assessment. The Crown Estate Commissioners exercise their statutory duties under the Crown Estate Act in the light of the commercial environment faced by Crown Estate tenants and the requirements of good management.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Crown Estate has raised from dredging works in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information is as follows:
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Aggregate dredging Contract dredging Navigational dredging Capital dredging Total 
		
		
			 200405 13.4 0.06 0.09 0 13.55 
			 200304 12.9 0 0.60 0 13.50 
			 200203 13.3 0.20 0.06 0 13.56 
			 200102 12.6 0 0.60 0 13.20 
			 200001 13.7 0.10 0.04 0.075 13.92 
			 19992000 13.1 0.20 0.004 0.003 13.31 
			 199899 11.9 0.20 0 0.24 12.34 
			 199798 12.4 0.06 0.01 0 12.47 
			 199697 13.2 1.00 0.01 0.37 14.58 
			 199596 11.9 0.90 0.01 0 12.81 
		
	
	Notes:
	Aggregatedata relate to material used in the construction industry.
	Contract dredgingrelates to specific extraction for a specific job.
	Navigational dredgingrefers to material used that has been extracted from navigational works.
	Capital dredgingrefers to specific projects which are carried out to improve or create access to port facilities, often for larger ships. Material can be used or dumped.

Crown Estate

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 April 2005, Official Report, column 1568W, on the Crown Estate, why this information is not collected.

John Healey: Financial information on piers and marinas in Scotland has historically been recorded differently from that relating to England and Wales.
	However, the Crown Estate are taking steps to enable the information concerned to be available in future.

Departmental Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his Department.

John Healey: The Treasury do not keep central records of the state in which contractors are based so the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what websites come under his Department's responsibility; and what the (a) cost and (b) number of visitors to those sites was in the last 12 months.

John Healey: The costs and traffic figures for each website operated by the Department for which the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible, during the 200405 financial year, were as follows.
	
		
			 Site address Direct costs () Unique Visits 
		
		
			 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk 123,133 1,003,996 
			 www.euro.gov.uk 21,000 223,108 
			 www.isb.gov.uk 14,000 18,660 
			  
			 Sites costed within the www.euro.gov.uk figure: 
			 www.ges.gov.uk  35,340 
			 www.wga.gov.uk  13,085 
			 www.csren.gov.uk  6,282 
			 www.opg.gov.uk  7,049 
		
	
	The term unique visits, refers to the number of different visitors logged during this period. These figures do not include repeat visits nor do they differentiate between different users coming from behind a shared firewall. For example, all Inland Revenue users would appear in the statistics as one visitor so the actual number of visitors is significantly higher.

Energy Efficiency

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies came from renewable sources in each year from 1997.

John Healey: The data relating to HM Revenue and Customs (including the Valuation Office Agency) are as follows:
	
		Energy efficiency
		
			  Renewable energy (Kwh) Total consumption (Kwh)(90) Percentage renewable 
		
		
			 199798*
			 199899*
			 19992000* 4,157,440 83,148,800 5 
			 200001* 11,653,532 241,347,045 5 
			 200102* 9,779,830 22,373,409 4 
			 200203 2,561,584 248,957,119 9 
			 200304 23,856,782 278,376,339 9 
			 200405 112,442,500 417,879,906 27 
		
	
	Information for the Treasury relating to the period up to July 2004 was contained in the answers which the former Financial Secretary gave on 19 July 2004, Official Report, column 37W to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb). All the electricity used by the Treasury since that date has been from renewable sources.
	For the agencies responsible to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the information is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Debt management office 0 
			   
			 National Savings and Investments (NSI) (87) 
			   
			 Office for National Statistics (ONS)  
			 19972001 (88) 
			 200102 9.0 
			 200203 9.1 
			 200304 9.2 
			 200405 9.1 
			   
			 Royal Mint 0 
			   
			 OGCbuying.solutions  
			 Royal Liver Buildings, Liverpool  
			 200102 0 
			 200203 100 
			 200304 (89) 
			 200406 100 
		
	
	(87)NSI's operations are outsourced to Siemens Business Services (SBS). This includes responsibility for the supply of all fuel and utilities to the three buildings at NSI's operational sites. NSI have no direct influence over the purchase of electricity by SBS.
	(88)Nil.
	(89)100 per cent. for six months, 60 per cent. for six months.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The Treasury is fully committed to the equality and diversity agenda and has policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds. In the last five years the Treasury has supported internal employee-diversity networks, funded diversity and equality events in the Department; funded diversity awareness raising seminars; supported participants on corporate diversity programmes, diversity-proofed policies and management processes and participated in promotional work on the diversity agenda.
	Direct staff costs on diversity issues have been in the region of 85 to 90,000 per annum over the last five years.
	In addition the Treasury has spent the following amounts within the Department on promoting equality and diversity by awareness raising events and supporting staff with disabilities:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200304 33,000 
			 200405 46,000 
		
	
	Costs for the years before 200203 can only be retrieved from an earlier accounting system and would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Treasury also introduced a childcare voucher scheme in January 2004 as part of the programme to promote equality and diversity. The cost of the first year (200405) was 120,000.
	In addition to these direct costs, employees throughout the Department are directly involved in promoting diversity in the Department i.e. members of diversity support groups, disability champions, diversity champion and senior staff sponsors and in mainstreaming diversity issues in their policy work. Staff costs for this work are not available.

EU Budget

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's forecasts are for the (a) UK rebate and the (b) net UK contribution to the EU under (i) the original Commission proposal for the next budget period and (ii) the Luxembourg Presidency proposal for the next budget period.

Ivan Lewis: As the Prime Minister pointed out in his statement to the House on 20 June 2005, Official Report, columns 52325, the Luxembourg Presidency proposal would have cost the UK 25 billion over the period of the next Financial Perspective. This estimate was calculated on the basis of European Commission figures. The Government's most recent forecast of the UK abatement and net contributions to the EC Budget, covering the period to 200708, is given in Table 3.2 (page 15) of the annual European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 6580) published on 23 June 2005. These forecasts are based on the current Financial Perspective, which runs to December 2006. For the period from January 2007, we simply up-rate the present arrangements to allow for inflation for public expenditure planning purposes. This in no way implies any assumption by the Government as to what the outcome of the ongoing Financial Perspective negotiations might be.

EU Budget

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has made of the statistical robustness of the methods used by Eurostat to estimate and allocate extra-regio shares of off-shore GDP.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Graham Brady, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning what assessment has been made of the statistical robustness of the methods used by Eurostat to estimate and allocate extra-regio shares of off-shore GDP. (15739)
	In 2001, the Office for National Statistics, along with 5 other EU Member States, participated in a Task Force set up by Eurostat to review a number of quality issues concerning Regional Accounts. The Task Force recommended that extra-regio GDP should be shown as a distinct item in the accounts and that regional GDP per head figures should therefore exclude that part of GDP attributed to extra-regio. The ONS considers that the Task Force recommendation is easy to implement and makes statistical sense. Apart from the assessment of the Task Force, I am unaware of any other assessment specifically made of Eurostat's treatment of extra-regio shares of GDP.
	Eurostat's current treatment of extra-regio GDP, however, does not comply with the Task Force's recommendation; they allocate estimates of extra-regio GDP to regions pro rata to their share of national GDP. The Office for National Statistics regards this treatment as inconsistent with the European System of Accounts (ESA) regulation of 1995 and the European Commission's NUTS regulation (2003). The latter regulation specifically identifies extra-regio as a separate statistical entity and therefore any relevant statistics should be shown separately.
	I should say, to avoid any doubt, that there is no difference between the ONS and Eurostat regarding the method used to estimate extra-regio shares of GDP; the ONS in fact supplies Eurostat with extra-regio estimations based on the 1995 ESA regulation.
	My predecessor wrote to the Director General of Eurostat earlier in the year to argue that the extra-regio component of GDP should not be allocated to the regions of the Member State, in keeping with the Task Force recommendation and the intention and spirit of the NUTS regulation.
	Eurostat have agreed that our concerns are well-founded and demand further examination.
	They consider the most appropriate action is to review the issue in the longer term as part of a wide-ranging review of Regional Accounts. They have identified late 2006/early 2007 as the best opportunity to commence such work.

EU Budget

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the implications of the inclusion of extra-regio shares of off-shore GDP in the current EU budget proposals for (a) the UK net contribution and (b) the UK rebate.

Ivan Lewis: It is not possible to quantify the impact of the inclusion of offshore extra regio GVA on the UK net contribution and the UK abatement because Eurostat does not publish the data required for such a calculation.

EU Budget

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his Department's forecasts or models showing contributions to and receipts from the EU for each of the member states which joined in 2004 under (a) the original Commission proposal for the next budget period and (b) the Luxembourg presidency proposal for the next budget period.

Ivan Lewis: The publication of forecasts of the contributions and receipts of other member states is a matter for their respective Governments.

EU Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Office of Government Commerce has made of the implementation of the EU Public Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC by other EU countries; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce has not made any assessment of the implementation of the Public Procurement Directive in other EU countries. All member states have to take appropriate measures to implement the directive by 31 January 2006 in accordance with their own procedures.

EU Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27th June 2005, Official Report, column 1291W, on the Public Procurement Directive, how many responses, including confidential responses, to the Office of Government Commerce Public Procurement Directive consultation specifically referred to Article 35 of the EU Procurement Directive; and how many of these responses called for (a) a derogation and (b) no derogation from Article 45 of the directive.

John Healey: Article 35 of the new Public Sector Procurement Directive (2004/18/EC) concerns notices and is not related to the derogation in Article 45 of that directive.
	On Article 45, the Office of Government Commerce received 21 responses referring to this Article during its 2004 consultation. Of this total, which includes confidential responses, one called for the derogation to be implemented and two called for it not to be implemented. Following my answer on 27 June 2005, Official Report, column 1291W, copies of the responses to the consultation have been placed, except where confidentiality was requested, in the House Library. None of the three responses explicitly referring to implementation of the Article 45 derogation requested confidentiality.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on arrangements countries wishing to leave the euro might adopt in terms of the currency they use.

Ivan Lewis: No such discussions have taken place. The terms of membership of the single currency for member states without a derogation are set out in Article 4 and Articles 116 through to 124 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.

Floor Space

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequerwhat the total floor space area is of buildings owned and leased by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies.

John Healey: The available information is set out in the table.
	
		
			 Department/Agency Total m(91) 
		
		
			 HMRC and VOA (90)1,754,122 
			 DMO 1,700 
			 ONS 85,741 
			 Royal Mint 46,233 
			 OGC 13,625 
			 GAD 2,898 
			 HMT 31,200 
			 NSI (91)113,125 
		
	
	(90)This figure is a total figure of space owned or leased by HMRC and VOA. At the commencement of April 2001, the Customs  Excise and Inland Revenue transferred a vast majority of their estate to the STEPS contractor, and have occupied the space since then under separate PFI arrangements.
	(91)This space is owned by NSI and leased to Siemens Business Services in Blackpool, Durham and Glasgow.

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases information was (a) wholly exempted, (b) partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W by the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs.

Game Rearing Farms

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answers of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 387W, and 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 553W, from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on game-rearing farms, why some established game farms and other premises selling birds to other estates are not listed in the 2005 rating lists.

Dawn Primarolo: Valuation officers of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are responsible for the valuation of non-domestic property for rating purposes. Game farms are not exempt from rating but the respective valuation officers have some difficulty in identifying game farms as most of them are situated in remote rural areas and operate on land which is exempt from rating as agricultural land. Local billing authorities are responsible for notifying valuation officers when such changes take place, but this does not always occur.
	The VOA has undertaken various initiatives over recent years to identify commercial game farms and to enter them in the non-domestic rating lists. Where the valuation officer is aware of a property that may be operating as a commercial game farm, and it is not assessed for non-domestic rates, then the circumstances will be investigated by the valuation officer and action will be taken to assess the game farm, if appropriate.

Gershon Review

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servant posts have been cut in the implementation of the recommendations of the Gershon review.

Des Browne: In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced that Departments have delivered the first 12,500 reduction in civil service posts, towards the Government's planned gross reduction of 84,000 civil service posts by 2008. Departments will report on further progress in their autumn performance reports.

Gershon Review

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of the cost savings made under the recommendations of the Gershon report has been in each month since the report's publication.

Des Browne: In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced that 2 billion of Gershon efficiency gains had already been achieved as at the end of 200405. Progress is not calculated on a monthly basis but departments will report on further progress in their Autumn Performance Reports.

Gershon Review

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress is being made towards the savings identified in the Gershon review.

Des Browne: Efficiency targets were set out for each department in the Spending Review 2004 White Paper. In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced that 2 billion of Gershon efficiency gains had already been achieved as at the end of 200405 and departments will report on further progress in their Autumn Performance Reports.

Gift Aid

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what regulations and guidance determine the number of occasions in each year when Gift Aid claims may be made by each charity; and what the average period of time was between the receipt of a Gift Aid claim and the consequent tax relief being passed to each charity, in the last year for which information is available;
	(2)  how many staff were required to administer Gift Aid claims for tax relief in the last year for which information is available; when HM Revenue and Customs' computer programmes were last upgraded to take account of the need to manage Gift Aid claims; and how many staff in (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) his Department are involved in the development or review of policy relating to Gift Aid;
	(3)  how many individual donations to charities attracted Gift Aid in the last year for which information is available; what the average (a) donation and (b) additional benefit to the charity as a result of tax relief was per donation; and what information is required to be forwarded to HM Revenue and Customs by charities with each claim.

Ivan Lewis: In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced the creation of an Integrated Business Stream within HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for all activity with respect to charitable organisations and donations, including repayment of tax to charities. In 200405 the HMRC Charities Business Stream employed the equivalent of 20 full-time staff in administering 119,361 Gift Aid claims. Gift Aid claims are processed on a dedicated computer system. Minor updates to that system take place regularly. The last major update of the system was in 2000.
	The HMRC Charities Business Stream employs the equivalent of three full-time staff in relation to the policy maintenance of all direct tax charitable reliefs, including Gift Aid.
	There are two full-time staff in the Treasury's Charity Tax Unit, which is responsible for developing policy in relation to tax relief for giving to charity and the taxation of charities. Other officials also contribute to work in this area as part of their normal duties. It is not possible to quantify the resource devoted by the Treasury specifically to Gift Aid.
	When a charity first makes a claim for the repayment of tax under Gift Aid, HMRC is required to complete various security checks. This can cause a delay in making the repayment. However, in 200405 93 percent. of subsequent claims were processed within 10 days.
	The records maintained by HM Revenue and Customs do not identify individual donations. In 200405 there were 119,361 Gift Aid claims by charities with 625 million repaid in relation to these claimsan average repayment of 5,236 per claim. A single claim can relate to one donation or many thousands of donations.
	A charity making a claim for a repayment under the Gift Aid scheme must complete HMRC form R68 (2000) giving the charity's details, the total amount of the claim and the period to which it relates. It must also complete a schedulethe R68 (New Gift Aid)giving details of donors and their donations.
	Gift Aid legislation does not place restrictions on how often a charity may reclaim tax under the Gift Aid scheme. In practice HMRC will normally accept claims made as frequently as a charity chooses. Where claims are for very small amounts HMRC may ask the charity to restrict claims to one per year.

Home Accident Surveillance System

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanism the Office of National Statistics has put in place to replace the previous work undertaken by the Home Accident Surveillance System.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician. I have asked her to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Drew, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what mechanism the Office for National Statistics has put in place to replace the previous work undertaken by the Home Accident Surveillance System. (15927)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is not (and has never been) responsible for surveillance of accidents. I therefore have no plans for ONS to replace the system formerly operated by the Department for Trade and Industry.
	Most serious accidents, in the home or elsewhere, result in patient contact with the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS are progressively putting in place electronic patient care records to reflect all clinical contacts with the NHS. These will include those relating to treatment for accidents. Aggregate figures will be available through the NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Home Owners

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many home owners there were in the UK in each year since 1979.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The stock of owner-occupied dwellings is set out in the following table. The stock figures included vacant dwellings and second homes, which are estimated to be about 3 to 4 per cent. of the total stock.
	Since 1997 the number of homeowners has increased by 1 million. The Government have pledged to increase the number of homeowners by 2 million by 2010.
	
		Estimated number of owner-occupied dwellings, United Kingdom, 19792004
		
			  Number (thousand) 
		
		
			 1979 11,564 
			 1980 12,273 
			 1981 12,442 
			 1982 12,627 
			 1983 13,010 
			 1984 13,334 
			 1985 13,637 
			 1986 13,983 
			 1987 14,363 
			 1988 14,779 
			 1989 15,205 
			 1990 15,490 
			 1991 15,532 
			 1992 15,688 
			 1993 15,848 
			 1994 16,027 
			 1995 16,239 
			 1996 16,445 
			 1997 16,675 
			 1998 16,932 
			 1999 17,183 
			 2000 17,437 
			 2001 17,701 
			 2002 17,839 
			 2003 18,054 
			 2004 (92)18,306 
		
	
	(92)Provisional.
	Notes:
	1.Figures from 1979 to 1990 are as at 31 December each year.
	2.Figures from 1991 to 2004 are as at 31 March each year.
	Source:
	Census figures and estimates of gains and losses between censuses.

Hong Kong Tax Rebate

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why HM Revenue and Customs is unable to waive interest penalties with regard to the Hong Kong tax rebate.

Dawn Primarolo: Because of tax rebates made by the Hong Kong Government, some people found that they had additional income chargeable to tax in the UK. Under the normal tax legislation, interest (but not penalties) is chargeable on the UK tax paid after the statutory due date. There is no provision in the interest legislation to allow that charge to be waived.

Illegal Arms Shipments

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what investigations the Government are making into allegations of illegal arms shipments to the Democratic Republic of Congo by UK-based firms; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs is not aware of any fresh allegations of UK entities involved in the illegal supply of arms to the Democratic Republic of Congo. HMRC are aware of allegations made in 2003, and recently repeated, involving arms flights between Albania and Rwanda. Inquiries were conducted but no evidence found of criminal offences by the UK companies named in the reports.
	HMRC takes seriously its responsibility in the enforcement of international arms embargoes and conducts appropriate enquiries into allegations of illegal activity within the UK or by UK nationals overseas.

IMF

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the UK has taken to encourage improved accountability of the International Monetary Fund to (a) governments and (b) parliaments of developing countries.

Ivan Lewis: The UK is committed to enhancing the accountability of the IMF to all of its membership. As a practical example of this, for the past six years, the UK Government have published a report to Parliament on the activities of the IMF. In addition, the UK has pushed for wider transparency from the institution as a whole through, for example, increased publication of IMF documents which has facilitated more accountability by parliaments and civil society, including in developing countries.
	As a practical way of increasing the voice of developing countries in the IMF and thus enhancing the responsiveness of the Fund to developing country concerns, the UK, with other donors, has also established a trust fund to build the analytical capacity of sub-Saharan African Executive Directors in order to better enable them to represent their constituencies more effectively at the IMF. The UK will also continue to argue for a package of further reforms and, in particular, an increase in the Basic Vote, to enhance the voice of developing countries within the IMF.

Income and Corporation Taxes Act

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the costs to business in the year 1 April 2004 to 30 March 2005 of the changes to schedule 28AA Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 introduced by the Finance Act 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the financial implications of the changes for businesses in 200405 are set out in a Regulatory Impact Assessment Reform of Corporation TaxReform of Rules on Transfer Pricing and Thin Capitalisation, published in March 2004. The changes included a new exemption from transfer pricing rules for most small and medium sized enterprises.

Infant Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many infant deaths there were in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and what the rate per 10,000 population was in each year.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Amess, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many infant deaths there were in the United Kingdom and the rate per 10,000. (16574)
	The most recent year for which provisional figures are available is 2004. These figures are based on provisional data. There were 3,660 infant deaths in the United Kingdom in 2004. The rate was 51.1 per 10,000 live births.
	Figures for earlier years, based on final data, are published in Population Trends and Health Statistics Quarterly (Table 2.1). These publications are available in the House of Commons Library. The provisional number of deaths for 2004 shown in these publications is incorrect. Correct provisional figure for 2004 will be published in the November edition of Health Statistics Quarterly.

Inheritance Tax

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have applied for conditional exemption from inheritance tax in the last 12 months; and how this tax relief is being amended to take into account the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: 31 new conditional exemption claims have been made in the 12 months to July 2005, of which 24 were concerned solely with chattels. Of the seven claims involving land, five were concerned with historic buildings and their immediate surroundings; one with land of scenic, historic or scientific interest; and one with both a historic building and its immediate surroundings, and land of scenic, historic or scientific interest.
	The Countryside and Rights of Way Act does not materially increase the rights of public access to much of the land covered by conditional exemption (and much the greatest part of it by value of the relief given). Where the Act does apply to land for which conditional exemption is claimed, we will continue to require materially higher standards of public access and land management as a condition of inheritance tax exemption than the Act alone would secure.

Irish Light Dues Subsidy

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether the Irish light dues subsidy counts against the public sector borrowing requirement;
	(2)  what representations he has received from the Department for Transport regarding the light dues tax and the subsidy to the Republic of Ireland.

John Healey: HM Treasury has not received any representations from DfT on the collection of light dues or the funding of aids to navigation in Ireland. The operation of the General Lighthouse Fund is a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport in accordance with section 211 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
	The General Lighthouse Fund, which receives light dues and pays for the maintenance of navigational aids, is classified as a UK public corporation and so its financial surplus serves to reduce the public sector net cash requirement.

Landfill Tax

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue has been generated from the landfill tax, from landfill sites within the county of Bedfordshire in each year since 1997.

John Healey: Information on revenue from landfill tax can be found in the HM Revenue and Customs Landfill Tax Bulletin, which can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?task=landfill
	HM Revenue and Customs does not have a breakdown of landfill tax by county.

London Olympics

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of how much increased revenue from business taxes will accrue to the Treasury due to the 2012 Olympics.

Dawn Primarolo: No such estimate is currently available.

Media Relations

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each of the last 12 months.

John Healey: The Treasury has not spent any money on external media relations in the last year.

MRSA

Lee Scott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many patient deaths MRSA has been recorded as a contributing factor in (a) the King George hospital, Ilford, (b) Whipps Cross hospital, Leytonstone and (c) the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust area in the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Scott, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking in how many patient deaths MRSA has been recorded as a contributing factor in (a) the King George Hospital, Ilford, (b) Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone and (c) the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust in the last five years. (15093)
	Special analyses of MRSA deaths are undertaken annually by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales. These are published in Health Statistics Quarterly. The latest year for which such figures are available is 2003. The number of deaths in NHS hospitals where MRSA was a contributory factor in the last five years was 3,229 out of a total of 1,468,710 deaths in NHS hospitals.
	Figures for individual hospital sites in 2002 were given in answer to a question from Andrew Mackinlay MP in Hansard, 22 July 2004, Column 471W. There were fewer than five deaths in each of King George Hospital, Ilford, and Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, in 2002. Figures for further years could only be provided at disproportionate cost. No figures are routinely available for NHS Trusts.

MRSA

Edward Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many patient deaths MRSA was recorded as a contributing factor in Kingston hospital in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Edward Davey dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking in how many patient deaths MRSA was recorded as a contributing factor in Kingston Hospital in each of the last five years. (16681)
	Figures for individual hospitals are not produced routinely every year. The latest, for 2002, were given in answer to a questionfrom Andrew Mackinlay MP in Hansard, 22 July 2004, Column 471W. There were fewer than five deaths in Kingston Hospital in 2002. Figures for further years could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Special analyses of MRSA deaths are undertaken annually by ONS for England and Wales. These are published in Health Statistics Quarterly. The latest year for which such Figures are available is 2003. The number of deaths in NHS Hospitals where MRSA was a contributory factor in the last five years was 3,229 out of a total of 1,468,710 deaths in NHS Hospitals.

Myeloma

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people suffering from myeloma in London in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Sarah Teather, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning the number of people suffering from myeloma in London in each year since 1997. (15133)
	Figures on the number of people who have been diagnosed with cancer and are still alive at a particular point in time are not routinely available.
	The number of patients in London diagnosed with multiple myeloma in each year since 1997 are given in the table below. The most recent available figures are for the year 2002.
	
		Number of newly diagnosed cases of multiple myeloma(93) in London(94), 19972002
		
			  Number of cases 
		
		
			 1997 336 
			 1998 403 
			 1999 393 
			 2000 398 
			 2001 371 
			 2002 359 
		
	
	(93)From 1995 to 2002, International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C90.
	(94)Government Office Region.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

National Insurance Fund

Anne Main: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much surplus existed within the National Insurance Fund for the last period for which figures are available; what plans his Department has to reduce the surplus; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the forecasted surplus in the National Insurance Fund is for 200506.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to Table 2 on page 7 of the Report by the Government Actuary (CM 6457) on the drafts of the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2005 and the Social Security (Contributions) (Re-rating and National Insurance Funds Payments) Order 2005. The Report, published in February 2005, estimates the receipts of NICs and payments from the National Insurance Fund for the years 200405 and 200506 and the balance in the fund at the start and end of each year. The Fund provides for state retirement pensions and other contributory benefits, and the Government are determined to continue managing it prudently.

Non-oil Gross Value Added

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what methodology was used for estimation of the trend rate of growth of non-oil gross value added.

John Healey: The Treasury's methodology for estimating trend growth has been set out in detail in successive Treasury publications: 'Trend growth: prospects and implications for policy' (November 1999); 'Trend growth: recent developments and prospects' (April 2002); and 'Evidence on the UK economic cycle' (July 2005). Further information concerning the methodology for dating on-trend points can be found in 'Fiscal policy: public finances and the cycle' (March 1999).

Non-oil Gross Value Added

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for each quarter since Q1 of 1997 the estimate of trend growth of non-oil GVA over the current cycle (a) before and (b) after the ONS data revisions on 30 June 2005.

John Healey: Prior to the publication of the 2005 Blue Book dataset on 30 June 2005, average annual growth of non-oil GVA was estimated to have been 3.2 per cent. per quarter between the estimated on-trend points in 1997H1 and 2001Q3. On the basis of the revised dataset this is now estimated to be 3.3 per cent. However, given that HM Treasury estimates of trend growth are based on whole economic cycles, and that the current cycle is now estimated to have started in 1997H1 and not ended, it is not yet possible to give definitive estimates of trend growth over the current economic cycle.

Non-oil Gross Value Added

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the standard errors on the estimate of trend non-oil GVA growth used to underpin chart 4.1 of the Treasury publication Evidence on the UK Economic Cycle.

John Healey: Estimates of the sampling and non-sampling standard errors for non-oil Gross Value Added (GVA) data published by the Office for National Statistics are not available. Hence, neither are estimates of the standard errors of the Treasury's trend non-oil GVA growth estimates.

Non-oil Gross Value Added

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the estimates for each quarter since Q1 of 1997 of (a) actual non-oil gross value added, and (b) non-oil gross value added if it had grown according to trend, that underpin chart 3.1 of the Treasury publication Evidence on the UK Economic Cycle.

John Healey: The trend rate of growth assumed in chart 3.1 of the Treasury publication 'Evidence on the UK economic cycle' is 3.06 per cent. a year between the estimated on-trend points in 1997H1 and 2001Q3, as documented in table B2 of Budget 2005 (HC 372), and the assumed rate of 2 per cent. a year thereafter. The requested information, reproduced below, has since been superseded by revised ONS estimates of non-oil gross value added released on 30 June 2005 as shown in chart 4.1 of Evidence on the UK economic cycle.
	
		
			   Actual non-oil GVA Trend non-oil GVA as assumed in chart 3.1 
		
		
			 1997Q1 187795 187866 
			 1997Q2 189000 189099 
			 1997Q3 190470 190509 
			 1997Q4 192771 191930 
			 1998Q1 194305 193362 
			 1998Q2 195608 194804 
			 1998Q3 197606 196257 
			 1998Q4 199228 197721 
			 1999Q1 199457 199196 
			 1999Q2 200604 200682 
			 1999Q3 202254 202200 
			 1999Q4 204540 203752 
			 2000Q1 207372 205315 
			 2000Q2 209154 206891 
			 2000Q3 211142 208478 
			 2000Q4 212050 210078 
			 2001Q1 213786 211690 
			 2001Q2 214332 213314 
			 2001Q3 214951 214951 
			 2001Q4 215950 216414 
			 2002Q1 216597 217887 
			 2002Q2 216736 219369 
			 2002Q3 219210 220862 
			 2002Q4 219625 222365 
			 2003Q1 220627 223878 
			 2003Q2 221699 225402 
			 2003Q3 223896 226936 
			 2003Q4 226384 228480 
			 2004Q1 227769 230035 
			 2004Q2 229929 231601 
			 2004Q3 231422 233177 
			 2004Q4 233176 234763

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

John Healey: The Treasury has not undertaken any opinion survey research in the last 12 months.

Pensions

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest available figure is for the public sector pension liability; and by how much it has changed since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: Total unfunded public service pension liabilities are estimated to be 460 billion as at 31 March 2004. (This is based on figures published in 200304 Resource Accounts and Accounts for 200405 have still to be finalised and published.) Figures for 1997 on the same basis are not available.

Petroleum Fuel Duty

John Spellar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many points of collection there are for petroleum fuel duty; and what percentage of the total collected in 200405 came from (a) the top 10 and (b) the top 20 oil companies.

John Healey: Hydrocarbon oils become liable to duty when they are imported or, if produced in the UK, when they are delivered for home use from a refinery. There are therefore no fixed points of collection for oils duty.
	The percentages of the total excise duty on petrol paid by the top 10 and 20 oil companies in the UK are given in the following table.
	
		Petroleum fuel duty -- Percentage
		
			  Top 10 oil companies Top 20 oil companies 
		
		
			 200405 97.6 99.3

PFI

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 571W, on the Private Finance Initiative, what the total value of assets and liabilities is for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships that are recorded on the Government balance sheet;
	(2)  what the accounting treatment is of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships; and whether this treatment is compliant with (a) UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practices and (b) International Financial Reporting Standards;
	(3)  what proportion of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government balance sheet.

John Healey: My earlier answer indicated that the Treasury's only PFI project is for its office building at 1Horse Guards Road. Details of the project are on the Treasury website:
	http://www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/about/about_building/about_ goggs_goggs.cfm
	The accounting treatment and asset/liability values are disclosed in note 13 on pages 41 to 43 of the Treasury's 200405 resource accounts:
	http://www.hm.treasury.gov.uk/media/3A6/1E/resource_ accounts_20045.pdf
	The accounting treatment for this PFI project is compliant with UK GAAP. There is currently no International Financial Reporting Standard on PFI projects.

PFI Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the (a) sustainability and (b) environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects for which his Department is responsible; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the PFI process in delivering environmentally-sustainable projects;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to make private finance initiative contracts for which his Department is responsible more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Treasury's Sustainable Report and Action Plan which was published on the department's website in March of this year.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/

Planning Gain Supplement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to introduce a planning gain supplement; whether primary legislation will be required; and what the timetable for its introduction is;
	(2)  whether the introduction of a planning gain supplement is expected to be revenue-neutral.

John Healey: As set out in the March 2005 Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report, the Government will respond to the recommendations in the Barker Review of Housing Supply later this year.

Population Statistics

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the population of (a) the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (b) Bedfordshire local education authority has been in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Nadine Dorries dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the population of (a) the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (b) Bedfordshire Local Education Authority has been in each year since 1997. (16634)
	Mid-year population estimates are not available for Parliamentary Constituencies. I have therefore provided figures taken from the 2001 Census.
	The first table shows the number of people living in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency on Census day (29 April 2001). The figures have been extracted from Table KS01 on the CD supplement to the Census 2001 Census Area Statistics for Parliamentary Constituencies in England and Wales, which is available in the House of Commons Library.
	The second table shows the annual population estimates for Bedfordshire from 1997 to 2004 (the latest year for which data are available). Bedfordshire Local Education Area (LEA) is the current county of Bedfordshire (i.e. it does not include the Unitary Authority of Luton).
	
		Mid-Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency -- All People
		
			 Area  
		
		
			 Mid-Bedfordshire 92,855 
		
	
	Source:
	2001 Census Report for parliamentary constituencies
	
		Bedfordshire county 
		
			 All People thousands 
		
		
			 1997 366.5 
			 1998 368.9 
			 1999 374.4 
			 2000 378.2 
			 2001 382.1 
			 2002 384.6 
			 2003 388.6 
			 2004 392.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Property Sales

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential property sales were recorded in the most recent year for which figures are available in the (a) 110,001 to 120,000, (b) 120,001 to 130,000, (c) 240,001 to 250,000, (d) 250,001 to 260,000, (e) 490,001 to 500,000 and (f) 500,001 to 510,000 brackets.

Ivan Lewis: The latest estimates for the number of residential sales in England and Wales are for 2004, and are given in the following table.
	
		Thousands
		
			 Value Range Number of sales 
		
		
			 110,001 to 120,000 75 
			 120,001 to 130, 000 81 
			 240,001 to 250,000 44 
			 250,001 to 260,000 8 
			 490,001 to 500,000 4 
			 500,001 to 510,000 (95) 
		
	
	(95)indicates that the number of sales was below 500.

Property Sales

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total sale value of newly-built residential properties in the United Kingdom was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Estimated total value of sales of newly-built residential properties is available for England and Wales for 2004 and the estimate amounts to 22.7 billion. This information is not available at the UK level.

Property Sales

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was raised in the most recent year for which figures are available from refurbished residential properties in the United Kingdom.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT from individual goods and services.

Public-Private Partnerships

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on measures being taken by his Department to ensure the definition of public-private partnerships contracts as public works contracts rather than concessions under European law; what challenges have been made to contract terms; and what regulations are planned at EU level to define this branch of regulatory law.

John Healey: The consideration of the treatment of public private partnerships (PPPs) was raised in the European Commission's Green paper on public-private partnerships and community law on public contracts and concessions in May 2004.
	HMG response in September 2004 to the paper was that separate legislation to cover PPPs whether awarded as contracts or concession contracts would be unnecessary, as the existing public procurement directive (2004/18/EC) largely covers such contracts, apart from services concession contracts, which could be covered by amendments to this directive.
	The Commission will be publishing a response to their consultation by The end of 2006.

Rail Employment

Edward Miliband: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed in the rail sector in Doncaster, North.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Edward Miliband, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment in the rail sector in Doncaster North. (15104)
	The 2001 Census gives the number of people resident in Doncaster North and employed in the rail sector as 415.
	A more recent figure based on the Annual Local Area Labour Force Survey is broadly consistent with the Census figure but is based on too small a sample to provide a reliable updated estimate.

Refurbishment Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the refurbishment projects in his Department that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that these will procure timber from legal and sustainable sources; and whether guidance will be issued to contractors on each of these projects ensuring that the timber used on site during refurbishment comes from legal and sustainable sources.

John Healey: The Treasury has no refurbishment projects in progress or due to start in the next six months.

Saulet  Co.

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Land Transfer Returns Certificates will be issued for the balance of development no.401908146MZ, which Saulet  Company applied for on 25 May 2005.

Ivan Lewis: HM Revenue and Customs is statutorily debarred from disclosing publicly information relating to the tax affairs of individuals or public and private sector bodies. I have, however, written to the hon. Gentleman about the issue of the certificates concerned.

Scottish Constituencies

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his policy to provide statistics relating to Scottish constituencies in terms of (a) Westminster and (b) Scottish Parliament boundaries.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Stewart Hosie, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking whether it is government policy to provide statistics relating to Scottish Constituencies in terms of (a) Westminster and (b) Scottish Parliament boundaries. (15642)
	The Office for National Statistics aims to provide data for any geography which can be built up from its basic geographical building block. Where the statistics are based on electoral wards it should be possible to provide such data for both types of Scottish Constituencies.
	In practice there is much Labour Force Survey, Claimant Count and Annual Business Inquiry data that is already available for both types of Scottish Constituencies. There is very little historical data as yet available for the new Scottish Westminster Parliamentary Constituencies. However investigations are in progress to determine how a best fit can be made to the wards used in the 1991 census that would then enable a 10 year back series to be created.

Security Contracts

Doug Henderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department and public bodies and agencies for which he is responsible on security contracts with Group 4 Securicor in 200405; and if he will list (a) the nature and location of services provided and (b) the start and end dates of such contracts. [R]

John Healey: HM Revenue and Customs and the Office of Government Commerce have contracts with Group 4 Securicor, the details of which are shown in the following table. None of the other public bodies for which the Chancellor is responsible (that is, HM Treasury, the Royal Mint, National Savings and Investments, Office for National Statistics, Government Actuary's Department, Valuation Office Agency, Debt Management Office, OGCbuying.solutions and the Statistics Commission) have had contracts with Group 4 Securicor in the past financial year. In some cases, their contractors may have subcontracted certain services to Group 4 Securicor, but in such arrangements, the costs, the services provided and the subcontract start and end dates are matters for the main contractors.
	
		
			  Name of body  Location  Nature of services provided  Contract start date  Contract end date Amount spent in 200405 (000) 
		
		
			 HMRC Newcastle Manned guarding at HMRC Newcastle Estate 199697 October 2004  956 
			  UK wide Cash handling 1 April 2004 31 March 2006  
			   
			 OGC Leeds Keyholding and call-out response 30 June 2004 31 March 2006  
			   Security, receptionists 1 April 2004 30 November 2005 1/2 
			   Access control 1 April 2004 31 March 2006 1/2 
			  Edinburgh Keyholding and call-out response 1 November 2003 31 March 2006 1/2 
			  Norwich Access control, CCTV 1 April 2001 31 March 2006 257 
			   Security, receptionists, reprographics, post room, handyman, porterage 1 December 2000 30 November 2005 1/2  1/2  1/2 
			  London Access control; CCTV 1 April 2002 31 March 2006

Solar Energy

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce tax incentives for the installation of solar energy capacity in domestic dwellings; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Government recognise the important contribution that renewable energy will make to its energy policy objectives. Accordingly, the Government have announced significant support for renewable and low carbon energy sources comprising capital grants and support for research and development totalling some 500 million. It has also introduced the Renewables Obligation which ensures all electricity suppliers produce a specified and increasing amount of energy from renewable sources. The Renewables Obligation is expected to be worth 1 billion a year to the industry by 2010. Within this context, over 20 million of Government funding have been allocated since 2002 under the Solar Photovoltaic Major Demonstration Programme to medium and large scale solar projects, with the Minister for Energy recently announcing funding of 1.5 million for 18 new solar installations across the UK.
	All consideration of fiscal measures is carried out as part of the Budget process.

Stamp Duty

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average level of stamp duty charged on a Right-to-Buy council property is.

Ivan Lewis: The latest available data are for 200304 and relates to the average (interpreted as the mean) price for sales of Right-to-Buy council properties in England. The estimated mean price for the sale of a Right-to-Buy (RTB) property is 43,000, which would mean there being no Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the sale of a property selling for that price. However the mean SDLT payable would not be zero if there were RTB properties which sold for more than the SDLT threshold (60,000 in 200304). An estimate for the mean SDLT payable is not available although the median SDLT payable will be zero.

Stamp Duty

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent (a) representations he has received from and (b) meetings he has had with (i) the Law Society Stamp Duty Complaints Group and (ii)others concerning complaints about stamp duty; what initiatives he has implemented as a result; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Senior officials from HM Revenue  Customs (HMRC) have had regular meetings with the President and members of both the Law Society of England and Wales and the Law Society of Scotland to discuss all aspects of Stamp Duty Land Tax, including complaints. HMRC have launched a number of initiatives, including a review of the reasons why land transaction returns are rejected. The results of this review have been shared with the representative bodies and details are available on the Stamp Taxes website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/so/sdlt8.htm
	HMRC Stamp Taxes are seeking to work very closely with key customers and stakeholders to improve the administration of Stamp Duty Land Tax wherever possible.
	In a statement issued on 7 September 2005 by the Law Society, Kevin Martin, President of the Law Society said:
	I'm pleased the Revenue has shown a willingness to work with us. If the changes they have announced deliver real improvements to solicitors and their clients we will have solid foundations to build on for our future relationship.

Stamp Duty

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints he has received about the Stamp Duty Office in each quarter since 1 December 2003.

Ivan Lewis: Information from April 2004 is given in the table. Earlier information is not available.
	
		
			 Quarter ending Number 
		
		
			 June 2004 22 
			 September 2004 18 
			 December 2004 20 
			 March 2005 38 
			 June 2005 72 
			 September 2005 61

Stamp Duty

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Stamp Duty submissions are waiting to be processed at the (a) Manchester and (b) Newcastle offices; and what plans he has to improve the service.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the items on hand in the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) office at Newcastle at the start of Monday 3 October.
	The SDLT 1 is the land transaction return.
	The SDLT 2 is a supplementary form required where there are more than two vendors or purchasers for a transaction.
	The SDLT 3 is a supplementary form where additional information is required to identify the relevant property or the transaction involves more than one property.
	The SDLT 4 is a supplementary form where additional information is required about the transaction, for example, the purchaser is a company, the interest purchased is non-residential, or in some lease transactions.
	The SDLT 5 is the certificate issued when the land transaction return has been completed correctly and any tax due has been paid. The work on hand refers to cases where a duplicate certificate has been requested by the purchaser or their solicitor.
	The SDLT 8 is issued where information on the land transaction return is missing or unclear or there is contradictory information.
	
		
			  
		
		
			 SDLT 312 
			 SDLT 2, SDLT 3 and SDLT 4 545 
			 SDLT 5 386 
			 SDLT 8 174 
		
	
	This represents approximately one day's work.
	The HMRC office at Manchester had 616 letters on hand regarding penalty appeals on Monday 3 October. HMRC will continue to keep their resources under review.
	Since 26 August, it has been possible to file SDLT returns on-line directly into the SDLT automated system. Using this service removes the need to use post, and (because of the in-built checks) has a very high probability of returns being correct 'first time' and results in an instant acknowledgement that the return has been accepted. HMRC is working with representative bodies to encourage the use of the service.

Stamp Duty Office

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many calls have been taken on the Stamp Duty Office Helpline in each quarter since 1 December 2003; what the average time taken to answer a call was in each quarter; how many operators on average staff the Helpline at any one time; what plans he has to improve the service; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The following table shows the number of calls taken on the Helpline since 1 December 2003.
	
		
			  Calls 
		
		
			 December 2003 (one month only) 38,789 
			 Quarter end March 2004 165,057 
			 Quarter end June 2004 107,972 
			 Quarter end September 2004 110,910 
			 Quarter end December 2004 97,450 
			 Quarter end March 2005 116,500 
			 Quarter end June 2005 115,751 
			 Quarter end September 2005 126,648 
		
	
	HMRC receive many calls to the Helpline on a variety of subjects and call length and time taken to answer varies. There have been delays in answering calls but they are currently answering calls within five minutes. Each call lasts on average between three and four minutes. Staffing levels have varied and figures are not available for the period requested. There are currently approximately 25 to 30 staff on the Helpline each day. Since 1 December 2003 HMRC have constantly monitored the Helpline and made various improvements. In June 2005 a new interactive voice response (IVR) options system was introduced to route calls to the operator most able to assist.

Stamp Duty Office

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average time taken by the Stamp Duty Office to process submissions was in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average time was immediately before 1 December 2003.

Ivan Lewis: In November 2003, 29.4 percent. of stamp duty applications were processed within two working days, 50.9 percent. between three and five days and 19.74 percent. over five days. Our August 2005 statistics covering the returns received onto our database show that 71.2 percent. were processed within two working days, 20.2 percent. between three and five days and 8.6 percent. over five days. Once included on our database, our system triggers the printing of certificates or requests for further information at our output handling centre for dispatch to our customers and their agents as appropriate.

Stamp Duty/Renovation Allowance

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on challenges to the (a) stamp duty exemption scheme and (b) business premises renovation allowance under state aid rules.

Ivan Lewis: The European Commission approved the stamp duty exemption scheme for non-residential property in disadvantaged areas as a state aid compatible with the common market on 20 January 2003. Following announcement in Budget 2005, the scheme was ended for property transactions on or after 17 March 2005. The business premises renovation allowance scheme was notified to the European Commission as a state aid in late 2004 and will be introduced once approval has been obtained.

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) what steps have been taken by his Department to review its arrangements for public reporting of its sustainable development impacts;
	(2)  what progress has been made on his Department's sustainable development strategy;
	(3)  what he has identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of his Department's estate pursuant to the framework for sustainable development on the Government Estate;
	(4)  what arrangements his Department has in place to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts;
	(5)  which parts of the Department's estate are not covered by the commitments set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of recent significant sustainable development impacts in relation to the operation of the Department's estate;
	(7)  what targets he has set for improving energy efficiency within the Department; and what measures are in place to work towards achieving these targets.

John Healey: The Treasury's Sustainable Development Report and Action Plan, which include the Department' s performance against the Framework targets set, were published on the Department's website in March of this year.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/about_sustdevel.cfm

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers;
	(2)  what (a) meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended and (b) work the Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in an official capacity within that role.

John Healey: Following the General Election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers. I am the Treasury's Sustainable Development Minister.
	Treasury Ministers regularly meet a wide range of individuals and organisations as part of the process of policy development and analysis, including on sustainable development and environmental issues. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's usual practice to provide details of all such meetings. Treasury meetings are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code, as appropriate.

Sustainable Development

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what remit relating to sustainable development is (a) required and (b) undertaken by the bodies for which his Department is responsible; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The joint sustainable development statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments and agencies is published on the Treasury's public website.
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/

Swiss Banks

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Authority on the operation of Swiss banks with London offices.

Ivan Lewis: There have been no discussions between the Chancellor and the FSA regarding the operation of Swiss banks with London Offices.

Swiss Banks

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulatory systems are in place to ensure the good governance of Swiss banks operating in the UK; and what systems are in place to ensure they are not used for (a) money-laundering and (b) criminal purposes.

Ivan Lewis: The Financial Services Authority regulates all banks operating in the UK and its handbook includes provisions to guard against money laundering. All banks operating in the UK are also subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Tax Avoidance

William McCrea: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further legislation the Government plan to bring forward to tackle tax avoidance.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are committed to protecting the tax system against tax avoidance when and where necessary, ensuring that all taxpayers pay their fair share, protecting revenues for essential public services. Since 1997, the Government have taken a series of steps to prevent abuse of the tax system through structural reforms that make the system less vulnerable, closing loopholes in the law and improving the way HM Revenue and Customs delivers its compliance function. The Government continue to keep this under review.

Tax Avoidance

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many tax avoidance schemes have been notified to Revenue and Customs to date under Part 7 of the Finance Act 2004 and related regulations;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the tax revenue which has been lost to date as a result of tax avoidance schemes which have been notified to Revenue and Customs under Part 7 of the Finance Act 2004 and related regulations.

Dawn Primarolo: Up to 30 June 2005 there had been 524 direct tax disclosures under Part 7 of the Finance Act 2004. In some cases substantially the same scheme may have been disclosed more than once by different promoters, but it is not always possible to establish this before investigations into the scheme users' tax returns have been undertaken. The number of promoters who made disclosures in that period is 100. These figures attest to the success of the disclosure rules.
	Promoters of schemes are not required to notify HM Revenue and Customs how much tax a scheme is designed to avoid. Moreover, the disclosure rules are designed to help HM Revenue and Customs prevent such loss. The disclosure rules are a success, and disclosures have informed a number of anti-avoidance measures in this year's Finance Bills.

Tax Credits

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax credit claimants there have been in the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire since the scheme began broken down by those (a) underpaid, (b) overpaid and (c) paid the correct amount.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates for 200304 of the numbers of in-work families with tax credits awards, including information on overpayments and underpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304 are published in Child and Working Tax Credits. Finalised Awards 200304 Geographical Analysis. This publication and provisional estimates for the number of in-work families by constituency with tax credit awards as at selected dates in 200405 are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has instructed HM Revenue and Customs to suspend efforts to reclaim overpayment of tax credits until the families involved have been able to make representations to Inland Revenue officials.

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement of 12 July 2005, Official Report, column 720, on tax credits 
	(1)  what the process is for suspending the recovery of a tax credit overpayment in disputed cases; whether the award will be paid at the new rate of entitlement but not further reduced to recover the overpayment in circumstances where the overpayment arises as a result of (a) official error, (b) a change of circumstances and (c) a rise in income above the disregard; whether the amount of the overpayment will increase in value as a result of (i)interest charged by Revenue and Customs and (ii) the award of additional tax credits if the dispute is resolved in Revenue and Customs' favour; and when this process will begin;
	(2)  if he will list the options for suspension of the recovery of tax credit overpayments being tested.

Dawn Primarolo: The commitment is that in cases of genuine hardship where the recovery of overpayments is disputed, recovery is suspended while the dispute resolved. HMRC are considering technical options which will allow them to meet this commitment.

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value was of tax credit payments made to people with awards whose incomes were in excess of (a) 50,000, (b) 52,000, (c) 55,000 and (d) 57,500 in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405.

Dawn Primarolo: The aggregate 200304 entitlement for in-work families with such incomes were as follows. These figures have been prepared on the same basis as those given in my reply to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 14 July 2005, Official Report, columns 117273W.
	(a) 42 million
	(b) 21 million
	(c) 8 million
	(d) 2 million
	Figures for 200405 will not be available until all the awards are finalised.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1) how many hours of overtime have been worked by staff in the tax credit office in each of the last four years; and what the cost of this overtime was;
	(2)  how many people (a) left Inland Revenue's tax credit office and (b) were recruited to permanent posts in the tax credit office in each of the last four years; what proportion of tax credit staff are employed on a temporary basis or on contracts of less than a year; and what the average pay is for staff working in (i) the tax credit office and (ii) HM Revenue and Customs as a whole.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of hours of overtime worked by staff in the Tax Credit Office (TCO) and the cost of that overtime, in each of the last four years, was:
	
		
			  Hours Cost ( million) 
		
		
			 200102 98,351 2.66 
			 200203 104,551 2.375 
			 200304 95,836 2.34 
			 200405 78,255 1.693 
		
	
	For the numbers of permanent staff leaving the TCO and the number recruited to permanent posts in the last four years:
	
		
			  (a) Leavers (b) Entrants 
		
		
			 200102 189 461 
			 200203 195 154 
			 200304 171 46 
			 200405 53 53 
		
	
	Around 7 per cent. of TCO staff are on fixed term appointments.
	(i) The average pay for staff working in TCO is 1,8662.00; and
	(ii) The average pay for staff working in HM Revenue and Customs as a whole is 19,827.61.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost per minute is to callers using the Inland Revenue tax credits telephone helpline; what payment is made to Revenue and Customs by British Telecommunications in respect of revenue sharing for the income from the helpline call costs; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The tax credits Helpline number is an 0845 number charged at local rates or Lo call. Information is not available on the cost per minute to callers using the tax credits Helplinethey will vary depending upon their service provider.
	HMRC do not receive any payments from any service provider in respect of this service.

Tax Credits

Graham Allen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 22 June 2005 from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North regarding the overpayment of tax credits to Mrs. L. and Mr. K. Bennett of Barn Close, Nottingham; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I did so on 23 September 2005.

Teenage Pregnancy

David Ruffley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many instances of teenage pregnancy there have been in Suffolk in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. David Ruffley, dated 10 October 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many instances of teenage pregnancy there have been in Suffolk in each of the last eight years, broken down by local authority area. (15124)
	The latest year for which information is available is 2003. Figures for local authority areas in Suffolk from 1996 to 2003 are shown in the attached table.
	
		Number of teenage conceptions in Suffolk by local authority area, 1996 to 2003
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003(96) 
		
		
			 Suffolk 421 393 439 420 363 351 407 408 
			  
			 Babergh 43 41 42 48 42 33 44 42 
			 Forest Heath 36 34 33 29 23 28 22 29 
			 Ipswich 103 105 126 121 101 100 107 104 
			 Mid Suffolk 38 37 27 37 29 34 40 52 
			 St. Edmundsbury 57 47 68 48 45 40 37 46 
			 Suffolk Coastal 61 58 62 56 38 44 39 52 
			 Waveney 83 71 81 81 85 72 118 83 
		
	
	(96)Figures for 2003 are provisional.

Timber

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to fund the maintenance of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs today.

Timber

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of bids made for contracts awarded by his Department; who makes such assessments; and whether these assessments are published.

John Healey: The procurement policy of HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Custom's, covers timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects. HMRC and HMT's procurement policy pays proper regard to environmental issues while still securing best value for money. Assessments of environmental impact and against sustainable development criteria are made by the Departments' procurement staff, who consider environmental issues at the start of a procurement. Details of any environmental requirements that suppliers need to be aware of will always be included in our invitation to tender documents. To support the general greening Government policy, we would expect a potential supplier to have environmental management systems in place on the lines of ISO 14001, which is increasingly being adopted by the more responsible sections of industry.

Video-conferencing

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many video-conferencing units are installed in (a) the Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number.

John Healey: The information requested is as follows:
	HM Treasury
	The Treasury's five video conferencing (VC) units provide facilities for all the Department's staff (ie 100 per cent.). There are no plans to increase the number of VCs.
	HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
	HMRC currently have 152 VC units and will have 300 by 2007. They are sited to meet demand and as a result multiple VC units are located where there are high concentrations of HMRC staff in locations such as London, Telford, Newcastle, Southend, Liverpool and Manchester. Quoting a percentage figure for the number of HMRC offices which have VC units would not give a meaningful measure of access or usage.
	Royal Mint
	One VC unit is available at the Royal Mint's site (100 per cent.). There are no current plans to acquire more VCs.
	Office of Government Commerce (OGC)
	There are 18 VC units serving all of OGC's offices (100 per cent.). There are no current plans to acquire more VCs.
	Office for National Statistics
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has a total of six VC units, with two each at its offices in London and Newport, and one each at its offices in Titchfield and Southport. Therefore 100 per cent. of ONS sites have this facility. We have a provisional plan to increase this by a further facility at the Titchfield site in the next year.
	National Savings and Investments
	Four VC units cover all of National Savings and Investments sites (100 per cent.). There are no plans to extend VC facilities.
	Valuation Office Agency
	The VOA has six VC units, representing approximately 7 per cent. of our offices with this facility. The agency intends to increase this number to around 12 VC units within a further six-month period.
	Debt Management Office
	The UK Debt Management Office has no VC units and currently has no plans to install any in the future.
	Government Actuary's Department
	GAD does not have any VC units installed. There are currently no plans to install this feature unless demands arise.

Water, Sewerage and Electricity

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change there was in water consumption by his Department between 2002 and 31 March 2005.

John Healey: There has been no significant change in water consumption in 1 Horse Guards Road, the only building which is occupied by HM Treasury, during the period in question.

Water, Sewerage and Electricity

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer at which non-office sites on his Department's estates he has identified opportunities for significant water savings.

John Healey: None. The Treasury has no non-office sites.

Water, Sewerage and Electricity

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on (i) water and sewerage services and (ii) electricity in each year from 1997.

John Healey: The information requested is in the following tables:
	
		Table 1: Water and sewerage services -- 
		
			  HMRC and VOA HMT OGC ONS GAD DMO NSI Royal Mint 
		
		
			 199798 (97) 52,000 (98) (99) (100) (101) (102) 187,497 
			 199899 (97) 56,000 (98) 147,000 (100) (101) (102) 187,027 
			 19992000 (97) 44,000 (98) 83,000 (100) (101) (102) 166,210 
			 200001 (97) 36,000 34,000 119,000 (100) (101) (102) 152,177 
			 200102 (97) 44,000 24,000 115,000 (100) (101) (102) 153,464 
			 200203 1,720,000 15,000 20,000 100,000 (100) (101) (102) 136,356 
			 200304 2,490,000 19,000 12,000 101,000 (100)1,500 (101) (102) 161,511 
			 200405 2,398,757 13,242 19,000 90,000 2,185 (101) (102) 177,652 
		
	
	(97)The information for years 199798, 199899, 200001, and 200102 is not available to us and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	(98)OGC only came in to being in 2000.
	(99)No records for 199798.
	(100)Information included within IR figures for 1997 to October 1999 and HMCE from October 1999 to July 2003. 200304 costs are from July 2003 only.
	(101)DMO costs are included in the service charge and disaggregated data for water and sewerage services are unavailable.
	(102)NSI occupy a MOTO agreement with HMRC and are invoiced quarterly for their utilities. Given the nature of how HMRC invoice them it is not possible to break down costs. The average spend per annum on utilities is 35,000.
	
		Table 2: Electricity -- 
		
			  HMRC and VOA HMT OGC ONS GAD DMO NSI Royal Mint 
		
		
			 199798 (103) 221,000 (104) (105) (106) (105) (107) 1,376,000 
			 199899 (103) 218,000 (104) 695,000 (106) 8,000 (107) 1,403,000 
			 19992000 (103) 257,000 (104) 672,000 (106) 10,000 (107) 1,658,000 
			 200001 (103) 161,000 165,000 533,000 (106) 10,000 (107) 1,363,000 
			 200102 9,500,000 134,000 206,000 697,000 (106) 11,000 (107) 1,158,000 
			 200203 11,889,000 288,000 190,000 536,000 (106) 13,000 (107) 950,000 
			 200304 12,062,000 356,230 198,000 633,000 (106)25,000 48,000 (107) 1,071,000 
			 200405 10,446,729 342,231 150,000 755,000 83,000 39,000 (107) 1,496,000 
		
	
	(103)The information for years 199798, 199899, 200001, and 200102 is not available to us and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	(104)OGC only came in to being in 2000.
	(105)No records for 199798.
	(106)Information included within IR figures for 1997 to October 1999 and HMCE from October 1999 to June 2003. 200304 costs are from June 2003 only.
	(107)NSI occupy a MOTO agreement with HMRC and are invoiced quarterly for their utilities. Given the nature of how HMRC invoice them it is not possible to break down costs. The average spend per annum on utilities is 35,000.

Watermark Project

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the departmental sites included in the Watermark project.

John Healey: The organisations responsible to Treasury Ministers that took part in the Watermark project when it ran between April 2000 to March 2003 were:
	HM Treasury
	Inland Revenue
	HM Customs and Excise
	Office for National Statistics
	Office of Government Commerce

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-levels

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of A-level examiners are drawn from the university sector.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected.

A-levels

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to introduce an A star grade for the A level qualification.

Jacqui Smith: There are no plans to introduce an Astar grade for the A level qualification. Our 1419 White Paper sets out our proposals for increasing greater stretch and differentiation in A level, through the introduction of a new section in A level papers covering Advanced Extension Award type material, and the introduction of an Extended Project. We also support moves by UCAS and the Joint Council for Qualifications to provide Higher Education Institutions with students' A level unit grades.

Bullying

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations the Government have received from schools seeking its support in how to deal with bullying.

Jacqui Smith: Between June 2004 and June 2005 the Department received approximately 1,300 calls from those seeking support on bullying, of which an estimated 70 per cent. are from parents. Unfortunately, since parents and schools contact the Department on an ad hoc basis we are unable to provide more specific data. Those wanting assistance and guidance are also able to make contact electronically, using the Department's dedicated anti-bullying mailbox. Since March 2005, the mailbox has received 13 requests for support directly from schools.
	The Department is also involved in funding several prominent organisations, who are actively involved in providing support for schools, parents, children and young people and promoting anti-bullying good practice. The Department therefore often recommends that inquiries are directed to these organisations themselves for a response. According to recent figures, the ChildLine partnership in schools (part-funded by the Department) was contacted by 425 primary schools, 482 secondary schools and 63 other education settings all requesting support with anti-bullying practice over the period. Furthermore, the Anti-Bullying Alliance (an independent umbrella organisation part-funded by the department) reports that 3,505 schools attended ABA training courses and conferences on anti-bullying, or requested an information pack between September 2004 and April 2005, whilst the ABA also gave direct support to 223 local authorities.

Bullying

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of cases of bullying in secondary schools in each London borough in each year since 2001.

Jacqui Smith: As data on bullying are not collected centrally we do not have statistics relating to the number of cases of bullying in each London borough. Bullying cases appear to be reported more often now than previously but we have no hard evidence that bullying is increasing or that it is affecting more children. Indeed, as children and young people increasingly feel safe at school to report bullying, and confident that it will be tackled effectively and sensitively, it is likely reporting will rise.
	However, any level of bullying is too high and we are determined to help schools tackle the problem. Our guidance pack 'Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence', the anti-bullying Charter and the anti-bullying website www.dfes.gov.uk/bullying offer detailed advice on preventing and addressing bullying. We also offer specific advice to schools on tackling homophobic bullying and are developing advice on racist bullying.
	We have raised awareness of the importance of children who are being bullied telling an adult about what is happening, through our public information film 'Tell Someone' and our leaflets and postcards for children and their parents. Our recent 'Beat Bullying' blue wristband campaign was launched in partnership with Radio 1, during the first national anti-bullying week in November 2004. By the end of December, one million children and young people had answered our call to 'Make a Stand, Wear a Band' and make a visible commitment that they are not prepared to tolerate bullying and will stand by their friends.

Child Care Recruitment

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to encourage recruitment into the child care sector; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Since 2000, we have been running a national child care recruitment campaign to encourage people to consider a career in child care. Our campaign, which has included television, radio and press advertising, is designed to complement activity at a local level where most recruitment into the sector takes place.
	In April this year, we published our Children's Workforce Strategy, which identified the need to recruit more people into the children's workforce as one of the key strategic challenges across children's services. In the strategy, we proposed to continue supporting recruitment into the early years, including child care, sector, working closely with local authorities and other key partners such as Jobcentre Plus to facilitate effective local campaigns.

Class Sizes

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size in (a) primary, (b) middle and (c) upper schools in Bury St. Edmunds constituency has been in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and middle schools: Average class size (108)position as at January each yearBury St. Edmunds parliamentary constituency
		
			  Classes taught by one teacher 
			  Primary schools of which: middle deemed primary Secondary schools of which: middle deemed secondary 
		
		
			 1997 25.4 0.0 20.6 22.7 
			 1998 25.3 0.0 20.6 23.1 
			 1999 25.6 0.0 20.6 23.1 
			 2000 24.4 0.0 21.3 22.9 
			 2001 24.1 0.0 21.5 25.2 
			 2002 25.0 0.0 21.5 25.0 
			 2003 24.4 0.0 21.2 24.2 
			 2004 24.7 0.0 22.0 25.0 
			 2005 25.2 0.0 21.7 24.2 
		
	
	(108)Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Departmental Contracts

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment is made (a) of the environmental impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of the bids made for contracts awarded by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Guidance has been provided by the Departments' procurement advisers to contract managers to consider environmental impacts when awarding contracts. The Department operates a system of devolved procurement management. It is not possible to provide information on this question without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Guidance has been provided by the Departments' procurement advisers to contract managers to consider environmental impacts against sustainable development criteria when considering bids made for contracts. The Department operates a system of devolved procurement management which does not facilitate the central collection of data.

Departmental Estate

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what have been identified as the most significant sustainable development impacts in relation to operation of her Department's estate.

Maria Eagle: The Department's key sustainable development impacts are:
	Energy consumption;
	Procurement;
	Waste generation;
	Water use; and
	Business and commuting travel.

Departmental Estate

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what parts of her Department's estate will not be covered by the commitments set out in the framework for sustainable development on the Government estate.

Maria Eagle: The following buildings on the Department's estate are not covered by the commitments set out in the framework for sustainable development on the Government estate:
	Bolton St/Piccadilly; Sheffield Nursery; Blenheim Court, Peterborough;
	Fountain Hall, Bradford; 1st Floor Wesley House, Luton; 2ndFloor Skyline
	House, London; Manorgate House, Kingston upon Thames; Bayley House,
	Bolton; Atlas House, Bolton; 200 Great Dover Street, London; Medway
	Skillcentre Annexe, Sittingbourne; Middlesbrough Skillcentre Annexe; Ground
	and 1st Floor Skyline House, London; Albion Wharf, York; Brandon Court,
	Coventry; The Oaks, Redditch; Enterprise House, Wolverhampton; 12
	Grosvenor, Crescent London; and Acorn House, Grimsby; Wales Bar and
	Maltravers Road, Sheffield.
	The above premises are either vacant, sub let to private occupiers, occupied by non departmental public bodies or occupied by fewer than 50 people.
	The Department's HQ buildings in London, Sheffield, Darlington and Runcorn are covered by the framework commitments.

Departmental Stationery

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what percentage of paper for printed publications used by the Department in 200304 and 200405 was from recycled sources; how much post-consumer waste this paper contained; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by her Department in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained.

Maria Eagle: In 200304, the Department used 17.38 per cent. (8.8 per cent. for direct comparison with 200405) recycled paper for copying containing 80 per cent. post-consumer waste. In 200405, the Department used 8.5 per cent. recycled paper for copying containing 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	In 200304, the Department used 0.3 per cent. recycled paper for printed publications containing 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	In 200405, the Department used 0.5 per cent. recycled paper for printed publications containing 60 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Departmental Stationery

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she has put in place to ensure that her Department meets the targets set by DEFRA to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 per cent. recycled with a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste; and by what date she expects to meet each target.

Maria Eagle: The following measures have been put into place for copying paper bought by the Department:
	The Department is testing recycled copying paper on reprographic and photocopying equipment during 2005 and will be routinely used if evaluation is successful. The target for recycled copying paper for reprographic equipment is expected to be met by 31 December 2005;
	Paper purchased for photocopying equipment has been successfully trialled and the target has been met;
	Call-off contracts are in place for staff to order recycled copying paper for IT printing equipment. Procurement choice has been devolved to users. The target date has not yet been met. Procurement staff are drawing up a Sustainable Development Procurement Strategy by the target date of 1 December 2005 which will include the purchase of recycled copying paper.
	The following measures have been put into place for paper for printed publications:
	The Department has signed up to access the Department for Transports' Recycled Printing Papers (RPP) framework from 1 April 2005. External print suppliers will access recycled paper for all publications as routine unless the product has specialist requirements that cannot be met via a recycled source. This target has been met;
	Management information on the use of recycled paper for publications is captured monthly from all external print suppliers and used to measure the Department's achievement of recycled paper targets;
	Awareness is being raised within the Department through internal electronic communication updates and media and procurement websites.

Departmental Stationery

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; and what (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the (A) recycled and (B) post-consumer recycled content of each paper is.

Maria Eagle: My Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper and (d) paper for reports are Banner Business Supplies and The Paper Company. Main suppliers for (c) envelopes and (b) stationery are Banner Business Supplies and Alphagraphics.
	Information for parts (i) and (II) is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Education (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance her Department is (a) giving and (b) plans to give during the next 12 months to schools in Bedfordshire local education authority to combat disruptive behaviour in the classroom; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Our Secondary Strategy gives all secondary schools in Bedfordshire access to high-quality behaviour management training materials and support from three DfES-funded behaviour management consultants. Our Primary Strategy is giving all primary schools access to high-quality training and curriculum materials to improve children's social, emotional and behavioural skills. In addition:
	our Excellence in Cities programme provides Bedfordshire with extra funding (just under 940,000 this year), about half of which can be used to fund Learning Mentors and Learning Support Units in schools in the Bedford Excellence Cluster; and
	our Behaviour Improvement Programme provides Bedford with further additional funding (780,000 this year) to support selected schools facing the greatest behaviour challenges.
	The funding related to both these programmes will continue in 200607.

Education (Bedfordshire)

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on special needs education provided in Bedfordshire.

Maria Eagle: Bedfordshire local education authority (LEA) has the same responsibilities to make appropriate special educational provision and keep its arrangements for special education under review as do all other LEAs. Bedfordshire's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2002 reported that:
	The LEA's work in [special educational needs] is generally satisfactory and makes a significant contribution to school improvement. However, planning for SEN is weak and, in this respect, too little progress has been made since the last inspection.
	The Minister of State for Schools and 1419 Learning has recently written to Bedfordshire county council following complaints about its policy on writing statements of special educational needs.

Education Funding

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of per capita funding for 16 to 18-year-olds (a) in colleges and (b) in schools over the next 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Available funding is determined through the spending review process and therefore we are not in a position to estimate what funding for 16 to 18-year-olds in colleges or in schools will be over the next 10 years. The Department allocates money, via an annual grant letter, to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who then decide how best to allocate the money in order to meet the Government's priorities.
	The Department's Grant Letter to the LSC in November 2004 set out a funding allocation of 9.3billion in 200506, 9.6 billion in 200607 and 10.1 billion in 200708.
	The LSC is currently finalising its forward plans and when that process is completed, we will understand what the outcomes of the spending review 2004 will mean for funding rates for both colleges and schools for 200607 and the subsequent spending review years.

Education Funding

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the levels of funding for (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) further and (d) higher education in Forest of Dean.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on school and further education funding is collected at local authority level rather than on the basis of specific geographical areas. The Forest of Dean is part of Gloucestershire local education authority (LEA) and the table contains information on primary, secondary and further education for the financial year 200506. The Higher Education Funding Council for England provides funding directly to institutions, rather than to regions, and there are no higher education institutions in the Forest of Dean area.
	
		
			  Gloucestershire LEA Revenue funding 200506 ( million) 
		
		
			 Pupils aged 3 to 10 (109)171.7 
			 Pupils aged 11 to 19 (109)186.9 
			 Further Education students (not including  school sixth forms) (110)43.3 
		
	
	(109)The figure includes revenue funding via Education Formula Spending (EPS), revenue grants allocated at an LEA level and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding for school sixth forms.
	Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of EFS settlements and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the LSC.
	Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to pupils aged 3 to 10 and 11 to 19 and exclude Education Maintenance Allowances and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	Price Base: cash.
	Rounding: total funding figures are rounded to the nearest 0.1 million.
	Status: 200506 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.
	(110)This figure is the revenue funding allocated to colleges and other learning providers in Gloucestershire for further education provision. The figure does not include other post-16 provision such as Adult and Community learning and Work Based learning for Young People.

Education Outside the Classroom

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she expects to publish the manifesto for Education Outside the Classroom.

Jacqui Smith: We aim to publish the manifesto in spring 2006. The Department will consult on a vision statement and common goals for the manifesto during the autumn term.

Educational Psychologists

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many educational psychologists she expects will qualify during the 200607 academic year.

Bill Rammell: The Department does not make estimates of the number of qualifications obtained in specific subjects.

Fire Safety (School Buildings)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she plans to publish proposals for new guidance on fire safety in school buildings.

Jacqui Smith: Draft proposals for new fire safely guidance for schools are currently out for public consultation. These can be viewed on:
	www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations
	The consultation process began on 1 August and ends on 31 October. Subject to the extent and nature of comments that are received, we expect to be able to publish final guidance by April 2006.

Foster Carers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the number of foster carers needed to provide placement choice for children; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: At 31 March 2004, there were an estimated 41,600 children in foster placements in England, representing 68 per cent. of all looked-after children. The Department itself does not currently hold information centrally about the number of foster carers. However, assisting local authorities to recruit and retain foster carers is a key priority for my Department, to ensure that placements which meet the needs of children and young people can be found without delay. A number of national initiatives are already in place or planned to encourage greater numbers of people to become and remain foster carers, including a Fostering Publicity Pack designed to help local authorities to run targeted local campaigns to recruit new foster carers for looked-after children.
	In addition, work to identify and resolve difficulties in the collection of national data about foster carers is ongoing. Fieldwork involving a sample of local authorities is currently taking place in order to contribute to the development of an informative and workable data collection.

Foster Carers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of adequacy of funding for (a) allowances, (b) fees, (c) training and (d) management and support costs for foster carers; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There has already been significant investment in funding for children's social services; total funding (including Formula Spending Share and Specific Grants) is 4.26 billion in 200506up 300 million (or 8 per cent.) on 200405. In terms of future years, formula spending for children's social services is to rise by 500 million between 200506 and 200708 to a total of 4.5 billion. This funding provision is not ring-fenced, allowing authorities to plan to meet their own prioritiesincluding for fostering services.
	It is important to consider funding for fostering services alongside the investment made in related children's social services. Local authorities need to ensure that they have effective strategies in place for planning and delivering provision for all their children and young people who have additional needs, and that they make efficient use of available resources.

Foster Carers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to enable foster carers who make themselves available throughout the year to care for children to be paid fees for 52 weeks of the year.

Maria Eagle: We have no plans to standardise the payment of fees to foster carers. However, we are currently developing proposals for a national minimum allowance for foster carers, to cover the costs of caring for a looked after child, and shall be consulting fully on this issue. Research indicates that payment ratesincluding the payment of fees while placements are emptyare but one of a number of issues of concern to foster carers.
	We are therefore taking forward work in parallel to develop good practice guidance for local authorities in order to address wider concerns about the transparency, consistency and efficiency of payment systems. Our intention is both to establish a national minimum allowance rate and to issue guidance in 2006.

Foster Carers

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will allocate increased funds for foster care services.

Maria Eagle: Ring-fenced funding of 113 million has been made available from 200304 to 200506 through the Choice Protects programme to support local authorities in improving placement choice for their looked-after childrenin particular through strengthening and expanding their fostering services.
	Of this amount, a total of 7.25 million has been retained over the three years of the grant to fund national initiatives, including measures aimed at improving the status, support and training of foster carers. These include, in particular: a national advice line for foster carers, 'Fosterline'; work to improve the support given to foster carers who are subject to allegations; as well as work to improve training opportunities for foster carers.
	In terms of future years, formula spending for children's social services is to rise by 500 million between 200506 and 200708 to a total of 4.5 billion. This funding provision is not ring-fenced, allowing authorities to plan to meet local priorities, and will enable further increased investment in fostering services.

Further Education

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils aged 16 to 18 have been educated in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms in schools, in England since 2000, broken down by local authority.

Bill Rammell: Participation estimates of education by local authority are only available for those young people aged 16 and 17.
	The number of these people participating in full-time education in further education colleges (including sixth form colleges) and school sixth forms (including independent schools) in each local authority are given in the table. The figures are given as at the end of the calendar year 2000 to 2003 (latest available).
	This information is taken from the publication Participation in Education and Training by 16 and 17 Year Olds in Each Local Area in England, 2002 and 2003.
	
		Participation in full-time education of 16 and 17 year-olds by local authority in England, end 2000 onwards -- Numbers
		
			  School sixth forms (including independent) FE colleges (including sixth form colleges)(111) 
			  2000 2001 2002 (112)2003 2000 2001 2002 (112)2003 
		
		
			 North East 17,100 17,000 16,800 16,000 24,100 24,000 23,600 23,200 
			 Hartlepool 300 300 300 300 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,300 
			 Middlesbrough 400 300 300 300 2,300 2,200 2,300 2,300 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 100 100 100  2,300 2,100 2,100 2,100 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 800 800 800 700 2,600 2,600 2,600 2,600 
			 Darlington 200 200 300 200 1,400 1,300 1,300 1,300 
			 Durham 3,400 3,400 3,500 3,200 3,900 4,000 4,000 3,900 
			 Northumberland 3,800 3,800 3,800 3,700 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,400 
			 Gateshead 1,600 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,100 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 3,200 3,100 3,000 2,900 1,100 1,100 1,200 1,100 
			 North Tyneside 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,500 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,400 
			 South Tyneside 400 400 300 300 2,100 2,200 1,900 1,700 
			 Sunderland 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,000 3,100 3,100 3,000 2,900 
			  
			 Northwest 41,200 41,000 40,500 39,800 74,800 73,900 70,900 68,800 
			 Halton 400 400 500 500 2,000 1,800 1,500 1,400 
			 Warrington 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,300 2,000 1,900 1,800 1,800 
			 Cheshire 6,500 6,400 6,300 6,500 5,100 5,400 5,200 5,000 
			 Cumbria 4,800 4,700 4,800 4,600 3,100 3,000 3,100 2,900 
			 Bolton 2,000 2,000 1,800 1,800 2,600 2,700 2.700 2,800 
			 Bury 600 600 600 500 2,800 2,800 2,700 2,500 
			 Manchester 2,200 2,100 2,000 2,000 5,600 5,500 5,000 4,800 
			 Oldham 900 900 900 1,200 3,000 3,000 2,900 2,600 
			 Rochdale 900 900 1,000 800 2,500 2,400 2,200 2,200 
			 Salford 200 200 200 100 2,800 2,800 2,600 2,400 
			 Stockport 800 800 700 600 4,100 4,100 4,000 4,100 
			 Tameside 300 300 300 300 3,200 3,100 3,100 2,900 
			 Trafford 1,700 1,600 1,600 1,700 2,100 2,000 1,800 1,800 
			 Wigan 500 600 600 500 4,100 4,100 3,900 3,800 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 700 700 700 600 2,200 2,200 2,100 2,000 
			 Blackpool 400 400 400 300 1,700 1,500 1,500 1,500 
			 Lancashire 5,100 5,000 5,100 4,800 13,900 13,700 13,300 13,300 
			 Knowsley 700 700 700 300 1,900 1,900 1,900 1,800 
			 Liverpool 4,500 4,500 4,300 4,300 2,900 2,800 2,700 2,500 
			 St. Helens 900 900 900 1,000 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 
			 Sefton 2,300 2,400 2,300 2,600 3,000 2,900 2,900 2,900 
			 Wirral 3,700 3,600 3,500 3,400 2,100 2,000 2,100 1,900 
			  
			 Yorkshire and the Number 36,600 36,100 35,500 34,700 44,000 43,200 42,200 40,400 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,000 2,900 2,900 2,900 2,500 2,400 2,200 2,200 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 700 700 700 500 3,400 3,100 3,000 2,700 
			 North East Lincolnshire 500 500 500 400 2,300 2,300 2,200 2,100 
			 North Lincolnshire 300 300 300 300 2,500 2,400 2,300 2,300 
			 York 1,400 1,300 1,400 1,200 1,600 1,600 1,700 1,600 
			 North Yorkshire 5,900 5,800 5,700 6,100 4,200 4,100 4,300 3,500 
			 Barnsley 400 400 400 300 2,600 2,500 2,500 2,400 
			 Doncaster 2,800 2,700 2,600 2,600 1,700 1,800 1,700 1,700 
			 Rotherham 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,800 2,400 2,400 2,300 2.300 
			 Sheffield 2,800 2,600 2,500 2,100 4,600 4,300 4,100 4,200 
			 Bradford 5,900 5,800 5,900 5,200 2,700 2,800 2,600 2,600 
			 Calderdale 2,100 2,100 2,000 2,000 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,100 
			 Kirklees 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,700 4,600 4,600 4,600 4,500 
			 Leeds 6,000 5,900 5,700 6,000 4,700 4,600 4,400 4,100 
			 Wakefield 1,700 1,800 1,700 1,700 3,200 3,200 3,200 3,100 
			  
			 East Midlands 37,700 36,700 38,200 35,600 31,300 31,000 30,200 28,300 
			 Derby 1,700 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,800 1,800 1,800 1,900 
			 Derbyshire 6,000 5,900 5,900 5,700 5,400 5,300 5,100 4,400 
			 Leicester 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,000 4,300 4,200 4,100 3,900 
			 Rutland 700 700 700 600 400 400 400 400 
			 Leicestershire 7,100 6,800 6,900 7,000 3,500 3,500 3,400 3,300 
			 Lincolnshire 5,800 5,500 5,600 5,800 4,500 4,500 4,500 4,000 
			 Northamptonshire 6,900 6,900 6,700 6,600 3,900 3,600 3,500 3,300 
			 Nottingham 1,500 1,400 1,300 1,100 2,600 2,700 2,700 2,600 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,400 6,300 6,200 6,200 5,100 5,000 4,800 4,500 
			  
			 West Midlands 41,700 40,700 40,100 39,100 49,400 48,700 47,300 46,600 
			 Herefordshire 600 700 700 600 2,200 2,100 2,100 2,000 
			 Worcestershire 5,600 5,300 5,300 5,300 4,600 4,500 4,400 4,300 
			 Telford and Wrekin 700 700 600 800 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,900 
			 Shropshire 1,900 2,000 2,000 2,000 3,200 3,000 2,900 3,000 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 500 500 500 300 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,900 
			 Staffordshire 7,900 7,700 7,600 7,500 5,800 5,600 5,800 5,600 
			 Warwickshire 4,500 4,300 4,200 4,200 4,200 4,200 4,000 4,000 
			 Birmingham 7,800 7,800 7,700 7,500 10,000 10,200 9,900 9,600 
			 Coventry 3,300 3,200 3,100 3,000 1,900 2,000 1,900 1,900 
			 Dudley 600 600 600 400 4,100 4,000 3,700 3,700 
			 Sandwell 1,500 1,300 1,200 1,000 3,000 3,100 2,900 2,800 
			 Solihull 1,200 1,200 1,200 1,300 2,400 2,500 2,400 2,300 
			 Walsall 2,700 2,700 2,800 2,700 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,500 
			 Wolverhampton 2,800 2,700 2,700 2,500 1,500 1,400 1,200 1,200 
			  
			 East of England 49,800 49,800 49,000 48,100 41,900 40,100 38,300 38,700 
			 Luton 500 400 400 200 3,100 3,100 2,800 2,900 
			 Bedfordshire 5,000 5,100 4,900 4,800 2,100 2,000 1,800 1,700 
			 Peterborough 1,600 1,700 1,700 2,000 900 900 800 800 
			 Cambridgeshire 4,100 4,200 4,100 3,700 5,600 5,300 5,300 5,200 
			 Southend-on-Sea 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,400 1,200 1,200 1,100 1,200 
			 Thurrock 100 100 100  2,000 1,900 1,900 1,800 
			 Essex 10,000 10,000 10,000 9,100 11,300 10,900 10,400 10,800 
			 Hertfordshire 14,500 14,200 13,700 14,400 5,400 5,300 5,300 5,600 
			 Norfolk 5,600 5,700 5,800 5,500 6,100 5,800 5,400 5,500 
			 Suffolk 7,000 7,000 7,100 6,900 4,100 3,800 3,600 3,300 
			  
			 Greater London 67,100 63,900 62,300 58,700 59,800 59,200 56,200 54,700 
			  
			 Inner London 19,800 19,000 18,600 17,100 24,100 23,900 22,500 21,800 
			  
			 Outer London 47,300 44,900 43,700 41,700 35,800 35,200 33,600 32,900 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,400 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,100 1,000 1,000 
			 Barnet 4,100 3,900 3,800 4,100 1,900 1,900 1,900 1,800 
			 Bexley 2,400 2,200 2,100 2,000 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,300 
			 Brent 3,200 2,900 2,800 2,300 2,200 2,300 2,200 2,100 
			 Bromley 4,000 3,900 3,800 4,100 1,100 1,200 1,100 1,000 
			 Croydon 3,200 3,000 2,700 2,300 3,600 3,500 3,300 3,300 
			 Ealing 3,400 3,300 3,200 2,300 2,300 2,300 2,200 2,300 
			 Enfield 3,100 3,000 3,100 3,000 2,300 2,300 2,000 2,000 
			 Greenwich 2,300 2,100 2,000 1,700 1,500 1,400 1,400 1,400 
			 Harrow 2,200 2,100 2,000 800 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,700 
			 Havering 1,100 1,000 1,000 1,000 2,700 2,700 2,600 2,600 
			 Hillingdon 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,900 1,600 1,600 1,400 1,300 
			 Hounslow 2,200 2,200 2,100 2,800 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,400 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,800 1,600 1,600 1,900 900 900 900 900 
			 Merton 1,400 1,400 1,300 900 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,500 
			 Redbridge 3,700 3,500 3,600 4,100 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,200 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,400 1,300 1,300 1,000 1,600 1,500 1,500 1,400 
			 Sutton 2,200 2,100 2,000 2,600 1,000 1,000 900 1,000 
			 Waltham Forest 1,300 1,300 1,300 800 3,000 2,900 2,700 2,600 
			  
			 South East 73,200 71,800 70,700 70,200 69,200 67,000 64,700 63,200 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,300 800 700 700 700 
			 Reading 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,400 700 600 800 700 
			 Slough 1,200 1,100 1,100 1,100 1,000 1,100 900 800 
			 West Berkshire 2,300 2,200 2,300 2,600 600 700 600 600 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,300 2,200 2,100 2,200 500 600 600 600 
			 Wokingham 2,300 2,100 2,000 1,900 800 900 900 600 
			 Milton Keynes 2,500 2,400 2,400 1,900 1,300 1,200 1,000 800 
			 Buckinghamshire 6,700 6,700 6,400 6,600 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,000 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,600 2,200 2,100 2,100 2,100 
			 East Sussex 3,200 3,100 3,300 3,100 5,300 5,200 4,900 4,800 
			 Portsmouth 400 500 500 500 2,700 2,500 2,300 2,200 
			 Southampton 300 400 400 400 2,600 2,600 2,700 2,500 
			 Hampshire 3,200 3,200 3,200 2,900 19,100 18,200 17,700 17,100 
			 Isle of Wight 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,400 800 800 800 800 
			 Kent 16,900 16,400 16,100 16,100 7,500 7,300 6,800 6,800 
			 Medway 2,900 2,800 2,700 2,800 1,500 1,700 1,600 1,600 
			 Oxfordshire 7,200 7,000 6,900 6,600 3,200 3,000 3,100 3,500 
			 Surrey 10,500 10,500 10,200 10,200 9,100 8,500 8,500 8,200 
			 West Sussex 5,500 5,400 5,300 5,500 7,300 7,100 6,600 6,700 
			  
			 South West 44,500 43,300 42,700 42,200 40,800 40,000 38,400 37,900 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,100 2,100 2,200 2,500 1,100 1,000 900 900 
			 Bristol, City of 3,100 3,200 3,000 2,600 3,200 3,000 3,000 2,700 
			 North Somerset 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,500 1,600 1,500 1,500 1,600 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,300 2,200 2,300 2,400 1,600 1,600 1,500 1,500 
			 Cornwall 3,000 3,000 3,000 2,900 5,600 5,700 5,500 5,600 
			 Plymouth 2,900 2,800 2,900 3,100 1,200 1,200 1,100 1,000 
			 Torbay 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,300 700 700 700 700 
			 Devon 5,900 5,700 5,500 4,900 5,900 5,700 5,600 5,700 
			 Bournemouth 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,200 1,200 
			 Poole 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,500 800 900 900 900 
			 Dorset 4,800 4,500 4,500 4,200 2,300 2,400 2,200 2,100 
			 Gloucestershire 6,400 6,200 5,900 6,000 3,700 3,600 3,400 3,400 
			 Somerset 3,700 3,600 3,500 3,400 5,600 5,500 5,400 5,300 
			 Swindon 400 300 400 400 2,800 2,500 2,400 2,200 
			 Wiltshire 4,400 4,400 4,400 4,200 3,400 3,300 3,200 3,100 
			  
			 England 409,000 400,200 393,900 384,400 435,300 426,900 411,700 401,800 
		
	
	(111)Further education colleges will include a small number of 16 and 17 year-olds in HE institutions.
	(112)Provisional

Further Education

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to assist recruitment and retention in further education colleges.

Bill Rammell: The Government are committed to supporting FE colleges in their efforts to recruit and retain high calibre staff and currently fund two specific programmes of financial incentives to encourage teachers to work in colleges. A pilot programme offering bursaries to trainee teachers undertaking a full-time postgraduate certificate of education; a programme offering Golden Hellos to new college teachers in certain designated shortage subjects. In addition the keyworker living programme offers support to FE teachers in London and the South East in respect of housing costs.
	These financial incentives are currently under review and the outcome of the review will be announced shortly.

Further Education

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effect of differential rates of pay between further education colleges' staff and school sixth form colleges on recruitment and retention in each over the last five years.

Bill Rammell: No such assessment has been made. Pay is a matter for individual colleges as autonomous employers.

Further Education

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on her policy on further education colleges charging employers for training staff in NVQ level 1 and level 2.

Bill Rammell: The Government's Skills Strategy, reaffirmed in the White Paper published on the 22 March, sets clear priorities for public funding to support the drive to ensure that employers have the skills they need to be successful, and individuals have the skills they need to be employable and personally fulfilled. Finding a new balance of responsibilities between Government, employers and learners is crucial. My Department's policy is that employers should pay a contribution towards the tuition fee costs for all employees undertaking publicly supported training unless those learners are eligible for free provision eg if the learners are studying for a first full level 2 qualification or undertaking a literacy, numeracy or English language course.

Green Ministers

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what (a) work her Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months and (b) meetings that Minister has attended in the last 12 months in an official capacity in that role;
	(2)  if she will list the meetings at which her Department has been represented regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Maria Eagle: Following the general election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers. Although the Government publishes the title, membership and terms of reference of Cabinet Committees, it has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.
	I was appointed as our departmental Sustainable Development Minister in June 2005. Since then I have overseen the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's report 'Learning the Sustainability Lesson' and the Department's work on a new sustainable development action plan.

Head Lice

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she has allocated resources to schools to tackle the prevalence of head lice among pupils; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department of Health is responsible for funding the school health service, which among a number of health promotional activities, has a role in controlling the prevalence of head louse infestation among pupils. Parents are encouraged to check their children and other family members for head lice as need arises, and to arrange treatment with such additional advice and support from the local health care teama school nurse, general practitioner, health visitor or local pharmacistas is required. If this exercise is undertaken at the same time by all parents of children attending the school, then the spread of head lice can be controlled. Schools are resourced to maintain relations and facilitate discussion with families over a range of issues which, from time to time, impact upon school activities. These discussions may include, in consort with the school health service, the best approach to tackling head louse infestation.

Headteachers' Staffing Reviews

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the length of time needed for head teachers to complete their staffing structure reviews.

Jacqui Smith: All schools in England are under a statutory obligation to complete a review of their staffing structure by 31 December 2005. The time needed by head teachers will vary from school to school, depending on how far they have already progressed with implementing the remodelling agenda and the extent to which they wish to propose changes to their structures. We recognise that some schools may need support in order to complete an effective review by the deadline, which is why the Rewards and Incentives Group has put in place a comprehensive package of measures to supplement the published guidance.

Headteachers' Staffing Reviews

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assistance and advice is available to head teachers to complete their staffing structure reviews.

Jacqui Smith: The document, Review of the School Staffing Structure: Guidance for Schools in England, which was produced and published by the Rewards and Incentives Group (RIG) in May 2005 (and is also available on Teachernet and Governornet websites), provides governing bodies and head teachers with comprehensive support in identifying the key steps necessary to conduct an effective review of the staffing structure.
	For those schools that need additional, practical, and in some cases, face to face support in order to complete an effective review, they are able to request support and advice from the local authorities' link and human resources advisers and the four unions and associations that are part of RIG. Further support and guidance is also available from RIG in the form of a national RIG helpline, a self-assessment tool for schools to use in identifying any further assistance needed, and a set of Frequently Asked Questions, which is available on partners' websites. This has been complemented by the hosting of six regional workshops by RIG partners for local authorities and head teachers, the focus of which has been the provision of practical support and sharing of best practice which can be shared widely across schools to assist the restructuring process.

Higher Education Initial Participation Rates

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under what circumstances students whose domicile is (a) non-UK and (b) unknown are included in the Higher Education Initial Participation Rate; and how many students there were in each category in each year between 19992000 and 200304.

Bill Rammell: pursuant to the reply, 12 July 2005, Official Report, c. 1016W
	I am providing an amended response following receipt of further information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). No students explicitly recorded as non-UK have been included in the HEIPR. Students with unknown domiciles at English institutions are assumed to be English and have been included in the HEIPR, unless the institution records that they are not eligible to pay home fees.
	The first table records the number of students listed with unknown domiciles, who may be included in the HEIPR, depending upon their prior HE status. The second is provided for comparative purposes and gives the total number of initial entrants in the HEIPR (in thousands).
	
		Entrants with unknown domiciles, who may be included in the HEIPR -- Thousand
		
			 Academic year No prior HE(113) Unknown prior HE(114) 
		
		
			 1999/2000 575 235 
			 2000/01 1,380 145 
			 2001/02 670 110 
			 2002/03 980 170 
			 2003/04 700 200 
		
	
	(113)Entrants with no prior HE are included in the HEIPR.
	(114)Entrants with unknown prior HE status qualify in the HEIPR on a pro-rata basis, therefore only a proportion of these students will be included.
	Notes:
	1.Figures rounded to the nearest 5.
	2.Information derived from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record.
	
		Entrants counted within the HEIPR
		
			 Academic year Number of initial entrants (Thousand) 
		
		
			 1999/2000 246 
			 2000/01 249 
			 2001/02 255 
			 2002/03 268 
			 2003/04 269 
		
	
	Source:
	Information derived from Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record and Learning and Skills Council Individualised Learner Record.

House Building (Skilled Workers)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what joint assessment her Department has made with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the number of additional skilled workers who will be required to deliver the house building targets in each of the sustainable communities growth areas.

Phil Hope: The precise number of additional skilled workers that will be needed to deliver the house building targets in each of the sustainable communities growth areas will depend very much on regional levels of productivity and the mix of skills required in each local area.
	ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for construction, is already actively working at regional level to support the development of Regional Housing Strategies and have developed a skills 'observatory' to provide a more comprehensive forecast of skills demand and supply. Research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF), due to be published in September, is likely to indicate that skills and training needs will arise from these changes in the sector. ConstructionSkills will work with other stakeholders to develop an action plan based on the issues identified.

International Baccalaureate

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) state secondary schools and (b) city academies offer the International Baccalaureate.

Jacqui Smith: In January 2005 there were 34 maintained secondary schools, one academy and one city technology college with at least one pupil following an International Baccalaureate.

International Baccalaureate

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government are taking to widen the availability of the International Baccalaureate in the state sector.

Jacqui Smith: The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a QCA accredited qualification and it is approved for use in the state sector if they wish to offer this. We have no plans to promote the use of the International Baccalaureate (IB) in the state sector.
	In our recent 1419 Education and Skills White Paper we explained that, as part of the proposed changes to Alevels, we will pilot an extended project. We see this as a single piece of work, requiring planning, preparation, research and independent working. We expect it to become a universally available option to add stretch, breadth and interest for many sixth formers. In doing so, we will draw on the experience of qualifications such as the IB.

Key Stage 2 Spelling

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1399W, on Key Stage 2 spelling, if she will revise marking guidelines for Key Stage 2 English tests to ensure that spelling is taken into account in the longer and shorter writing tasks.

Jacqui Smith: No. In the Key Stage 2 English tests, spelling will continue to be assessed through a discrete spelling test.

Leadership Incentive Grant

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her plans are for replacing the Leadership Incentive Grant when it finishes next year.

Jacqui Smith: Ministers have yet to take decisions on the targeting of additional funds through the new Single School Grant from 200607 onwards.

London Olympic Games

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to use the hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games to encourage school children in London to take up sport; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Staging the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London will undoubtedly boost our national PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy. We can use the games to inspire children and young people to take up sport and lay the foundations for lifelong participation. Together with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and other partners, we are exploring how we can further utilise the games to enhance the effectiveness of the PESSCL strategy.
	The Government are investingincluding lottery fundingover 1.5 billion, in the five years to 2008, to deliver the PESSCL strategy. An ambitious public service agreement target has been set to increase the percentage of 5 to 16-year-olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality physical education and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006, and then 85 per cent. by 2008. We are on track to meet the target. Longer termby 2010our ambition is to offer children the chance to spend at least four hours a week on sport.

Looked-after Children

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State forEducation and Skills what estimate she has made of the annual cost of looking after the children of adults who have themselves previously been in care in 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The Government have made no estimates of the costs in 200405 of looking after the children of adults who had themselves been previously looked-after.

Music Teaching

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average cost to those people who have to contribute to the study of a musical instrument at school is.

Jacqui Smith: This information is not part of the Department's statutory annual data collection. However, in February we undertook a survey of all local authority music services that included questions about the cost of instrumental tuition provided by music services. The survey findings will be available in November 2005.

NPQH Programme

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many head teachers and senior teachers have completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) programme; how many middle leaders have completed Leading from the Middle; and how many applicants have failed to complete either NPQH or Leading from the Middle programmes in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: On the basis of information provided by the National College for School Leadership:
	The number of candidates who have completed the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in the last five years is2,258 in 2001; 3,183 in 2002; 3,295 in 2003; 3,838 in 2004; and 1,899 (to date) in 2005. Of those who hold NPQH4,601 are headteachers and 8,657 assistant and deputy headteachers. While we can say how many candidates completed the NPQH in a given year, this will not necessarily be the same year they were appointed to a headteacher or assistant or deputy headteacher post. It is, therefore, only possible to say how many headteachers, and assistant and deputy headteachers currently hold NPQH.
	The number of middle leaders who have completed the Leading from the Middle Programme since it was delivered for the first time in September 2003, is 1,978 in Cohort 1 which started in September 2003; 1,965 in Cohort 2 which started in April 2004; and 3,127 in Cohort 3 which started in September 2004. As the programme lasts for 10 months, no information is available so far for the numbers who have completed Cohort 4 which started in April 2004.
	The number of applicants who have failed to complete NPQH in each of the last five years is77 in 2001; 315 in 2002; 332 in 2003; 508 in 2004; and 328 in 2005.
	The number of applicants who have failed to complete the Leading from the Middle programme is 175 from Cohort 1; 193 from Cohort 2; and 124 from Cohort 3.

Overcrowded Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact on education of overcrowding in housing in England; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published The Impact of Overcrowding on Health and Education: A Review of the Evidence and Literature in May 2004. The report (ISBN 1 85112 7110) was placed in the Library of the House.
	DfES has not conducted an independent assessment of the issue. I am not aware of any significant evidence that subsequently adds to the assessment of the ODPM publication.

Part-time Students

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what research she has conducted on the financial situation of part-time students;
	(2)  what research she has conducted on the impact of new fees regulations in higher education institutions with an atypically high level of part-time students;
	(3)  what recent assessment she has made of the merits of fee deferrals for part-time students;
	(4)  what representations she has received from (a) higher education institutions and (b) the Office for Fair Access on the impact on student access of differences between the full-time and part-time student support regimes.

Bill Rammell: pursuant to the reply, 18 July 2005, Official Report, c. 140607W
	It should be noted that the publication date of the report, Earning, Learning and Paying: The Results from a National Survey of the Costs and Financing of Part-time Students in Higher Education, referred to in my answer was December 2004, not November as previously stated.
	A copy of the report is available in the House of Commons Library.

Positive Activities for Young People

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research she has published on the impact of the Positive Activities for Young People programme on youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

Beverley Hughes: An independent evaluation report covering the period April 2003 to March 2005 is currently being finalised. It is the Department's intention to publish on the internet on 28 October 2005. The website address is:
	www.connexions.gov.uk

Prince's Trust Team Programme

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent funding changes have been made affecting the Prince's Trust Team Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Prince's Trust Team Programme is funded by lead further education colleges through their allocations from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The Programme was developed with the help of funding provided by the LSC. In 2005/06 the LSC has emphasised its priorities for further education which guarantee a place in education or training for all young people and a focus on support for adults without a solid foundation of employability skills. As part of the normal annual cycle of planning provision, colleges decide on their continued support for local Team Programmes on the basis of their effectiveness in meeting the needs of young people, value for money, quality of provision and contribution to meeting the targets outlined in the college's development plan agreed with their local LSC. I met with the Trust's Chief Executive earlier in the summer and I am confident that through the LSC and local providers we will continue to support Team Programmes that meet the needs of vulnerable young people.

Private Finance Initiatives

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that private finance initiative projects for which her Department is responsible create the minimum of environmental damage;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of (a) the sustainability and environmental impacts of private finance initiative (PFI) projects for which it is responsible and (b) the effectiveness of the PFI process as used by her Department to deliver environmentally sustainable projects;
	(3)  what plans she has to make those private finance initiative contracts for which her Department is responsible more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability.

Jacqui Smith: The Department for Education and Skills does not itself undertake private finance initiative (PFI) projects. PFI projects for the provision of schools are delivered through contracts between local authorities and private sector contractors.
	However, my Department gives high priority to sustainability and environmental impact in all school building projects. We want all new school buildings to meet the highest environmental standards, whether procured through the private finance initiative or conventionally. To that end, we have worked with the building research establishment to develop a new specific environmental assessment methodology (BREEAM) for schools. This was launched in 2004. Further information on the schools BREEAM method is available at http//www.breeam.org/schools.html.
	It is now a condition of capital funding from my Department that all major new build and refurbishment projects valued at 500,000 for primary schools and 2 million for secondary schools and involving rebuilding or complete refurbishment of more than 10 per cent. of the floor area of a school should be subject to this BREEAM assessment. This includes PFI projects. All these projects must aim to achieve a 'very good' assessment under the schools' BREEAM. This is a tough new requirement for schools that will ensure that environmental sustainability is considered in design and construction.

Private Finance Initiatives

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 107677W, on private finance projects, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government balance sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Jacqui Smith: The Department for Education and Skills does not itself undertake private finance initiative (PFI) projects. PFI projects for the provision of schools are delivered through contracts between local authorities and private sector contractors. None of the assets or liabilities of these contracts is therefore recorded on the Government balance sheet (GBS).
	The Department is itself undertaking one public private partnership (PPP) project in partnership with Capita, for the delivery of the Connexions card across England. There are no assets or liabilities in respect of this project recorded on the GBS.
	Balance sheet treatment of PFI/PPP projects is determined by an independent auditor following United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards issued by the independent Accounting Standards Board.

PSE Advisers

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many personal, social, health and citizenship education advisors there are in each London borough.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Pupil Funding (London)

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the per capita pupil funding in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools was in each London borough, in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		200506 Total funding per pupil aged 310 and 1115 by London LEA -- 
		
			 LEA name Pupils aged 310 Pupils aged 1115 
		
		
			 Camden 5,710 6,820 
			 Greenwich 5,200 6,460 
			 Hackney 5,900 7,670 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 5,550 6,780 
			 Islington 5,700 7.210 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5,700 7,200 
			 Lambeth 5,700 7,600 
			 Lewisham 5,340 6,950 
			 Southwark 5,480 7,210 
			 Tower Hamlets 6,130 7,360 
			 Wandsworth 5,050 6,360 
			 Westminster 5,450 6,460 
			 Barking and Dagenham 4,320 5,290 
			 Barnet 4,240 5,150 
			 Bexley 3,760 4,640 
			 Brent 4,830 6,050 
			 Bromley 3,780 4,710 
			 Croydon 4,080 5,220 
			 Ealing 4,670 5,840 
			 Enfield 4,280 5,190 
			 Haringey 4,980 6,290 
			 Harrow 4,220 5,140 
			 Havering 3,730 4,710 
			 Hillingdon 4,120 5,060 
			 Hounslow 4,550 5,470 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,890 4,790 
			 Merton 4,220 5,210 
			 Newham 4,960 5,980 
			 Redbridge 4,030 4,810 
			 Richmond upon Thames 3,820 4,780 
			 Sutton 3,850 4,710 
			 Waltham Forest 4,540 5,680 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Total funding includes funding via education formula spending (EFS)/standard spending assessment and revenue grants allocated at an LEA level. It includes the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council.
	2.Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 310 and 1115 and exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	3.The pupil numbers used to convert m figures to per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.
	4.Data as reported by the LEA and reported in cash terms rounded to the nearest 10.

School Buildings (Out of Term Use)

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of school buildings and sports fields was used during the school holidays in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local authority in 200405.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally. While it is Government policy to encourage schools to make their facilities available out of school hours, the extent to which they do so is a matter for each individual school.

School Meals

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were eligible for free school meals in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each London borough in the last period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools(115): School meal arrangements(116)January 2005by each London local authority
		
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools Maintained secondary schools 
			   Number on roll Number known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals Number on roll Number known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			  London 633,190 169,520 26.8 422,860 101,240 23.9 
			  Inner London 233,100 89,240 38.3 127,910 49,490 38.7 
			 202 Camden 11,580 4,820 41.6 9,780 3,030 31.0 
			 201 City of London 220 70 30.8
			 204 Hackney 18,140 7,380 40.7 7,220 2,790 38.6 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 10,070 4,490 44.6 7,050 2,310 32.7 
			 309 Haringey 22,100 7,690 34.8 11,430 4,240 37.1 
			 206 Islington 14,680 6,290 42.8 7,970 3,430 43.0 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 7,320 2,960 40.5 3,510 990 28.3 
			 208 Lambeth 20,270 7,680 37.9 7,910 3,030 38.3 
			 209 Lewisham 22,140 6,160 27.8 11,720 3,240 27.6 
			 316 Newham 31,520 11,190 35.5 18,070 7,560 41.9 
			 210 Southward 23,610 8,610 36.5 10,240 4,740 46.3 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 22,700 12,260 54.0 14,190 8,730 61.5 
			 212 Wandsworth 17,530 5,240 29.9 10,250 2,590 25.2 
			 213 Westminster 11,230 4,410 39.3 8,560 2,810 32.8 
			  Outer London 400,090 80,280 20.1 294,960 51,750 17.5 
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 18,490 4,740 25.6 12,290 3,300 26.9 
			 302 Barnet 26,420 5,200 19.7 19,630 2,880 14.7 
			 303 Bexley 20,780 2,570 12.4 18,290 1,640 8.9 
			 304 Brent 23,000 6,780 29.5 16,150 3,560 22.0 
			 305 Bromley 24,110 3,160 13.1 22,330 2,310 10.3 
			 306 Croydon 30,290 6,640 21.9 18,750 3,570 19.0 
			 307 Ealing 26,550 6,650 25.0 15,020 4,020 26.7 
			 308 Enfield 27,140 6,790 25.0 22,060 4,710 21.4 
			 203 Greenwich 21,170 7,480 35.3 . 15,170 4,770 31.4 
			 310 Harrow 19,510 3,220 16.5 9,020 1,740 19.3 
			 311 Havering 19,800 2,380 12.0 16,520 1,600 9.7 
			 312 Hillingdon 24,260 4,360 18.0 17,420 3,010 17.3 
			 313 Hounslow 18,860 4,250 22.5 16,600 3,250 19.6 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 11,720 860 7.3 9,590 800 8.3 
			 315 Merton 14,780 2,040 13.8 8,540 1,380 16.1 
			 317 Redbridge 23,890 4,130 17.3 20,310 3,050 15.0 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 12,760 1,240 9.7 7,290 1,190 16.4 
			 319 Sutton 15,200 2,060 13.6 15,970 1,280 8.0 
			 320 Waltham Forest 21,370 5,760 26.9 14,010 3,710 26.4 
		
	
	(115)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(116)Includes dually registered pupils and boarders.
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of the component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Repairs (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the requirement for school building repairs in each London borough; and what the costs are estimated to be in each case.

Jacqui Smith: Data on school buildings maintenance have been supplied to the Department twice; firstly in 200001 and secondly in 2003. The following table shows, for the two data collections, figures for each London borough. Costs have been updated to current costs. In addition to backlog repair work, the figures cover work needed over a five year period from the dates of the assessments, including cyclical and scheduled maintenance.
	Central Government capital support for investment in schools has increased from under 700 million in 199697 to 5.5 billion this year and will rise further to 6.3 billion by 200708. Progress is being made year-by-year in improving the quality of the school building stock.
	
		Schools maintenance requirements
		
			  2001 2003 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham (117) 62,441,458 
			 Barnet 65,613,661 76,672,453 
			 Bexley 41,501,485 46,147,620 
			 Brent 51,240,631 43,944,403 
			 Bromley 40,551,735 52,075,990 
			 Camden 21,660,660 24,608,598 
			 Croydon 27,576,388 29,752,920 
			 Ealing 53,591,843 48,767,105 
			 Enfield 71,824,888 53,015,502 
			 Greenwich 53,508,581 70,350,093 
			 Hackney 48,984,402 61,195,214 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 27,190,465 24,457,826 
			 Haringey (117) 51,410,196 
			 Harrow 26,640,453 31,784,504 
			 Havering 69,694,380 63,341,119 
			 Hillingdon 36,085,579 40,372,718 
			 Hounslow 42,276,967 60,210,769 
			 Islington 56,921,338 38,624,909 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 11,395,334 10,127,270 
			 Kingston upon Thames 31,468,000 43,320,352 
			 Lambeth (117) 107,414,349 
			 Lewisham 67,322,189 62,772,359 
			 Merton 27,565,651 23,008,613 
			 Newham 66,200,984 48,941,904 
			 Redbridge 49,774,860 45,019,902 
			 Richmond upon Thames 13,883,220 24,779,468 
			 Southwark 38,462,069 51,926,358 
			 Sutton 23,890,485 20,282,052 
			 Tower Hamlets 44,530,317 27,322,041 
			 Waltham Forest 38,597,729 26,742,607 
			 Wandsworth 77,255,488 77,255,488 
			 Westminster 39,387,252 29,212,585 
		
	
	(117)No data supplied, or data appraised as unreliable.

School Rules

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance is issued by her Department to head teachers on the development of school rules.

Jacqui Smith: Our Primary and Secondary National Strategies provide schools with comprehensive guidance and training materials on effective management of behaviour and attendance. These include practical advice on how to develop, implement and review a school behaviour policy which covers principles, roles and responsibilities, rules, rewards and sanctions.

School Sports

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of schools hold annual sports day; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The 200304 PE, school sport and club links surveythe largest and most comprehensive survey of school sport in Englandfound that 96 percent. of the 6500 schools taking part in the survey held a sports day or festival of sport. The results of the survey were published on 29 April 2004, and copies of the report (The impact of school sport partnerships: The results of the 200304 PE, school sports and club links survey) have been placed in the Houses of Parliament Libraries.

School Sports

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of schools have no grassed play areas in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each local education authority.

Bill Rammell: While the school premises data that the Department collects from local education authorities include information on the suitability of sports provision, the data do not show numbers or percentages of schools without grassed play areas.

School Sports

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of schools offer lessons in (a) tennis, (b) swimming, (c) cricket, (d) rugby, (e) football, (f) netball and (g) lacrosse in (i) England, (ii) each region and (iii) each local education authority.

Jacqui Smith: The data requested are not held centrally in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The results of the 200405 PE, school sport survey found that:
	(a) 71 per cent. of the 11,498 schools taking part in the survey offer tennis;
	(b) 83 per cent. offer swimming;
	(c) 85 per cent. offer cricket;
	(d) 82 per cent. offer rugby (this is a combined figure for rugby union71 per cent. and league11 per cent.);
	(e) 97 per cent. offer football;
	(f) 81 per cent. offer netball; and
	(g) 4 per cent. offer lacrosse.
	The results of the survey were published on 2 September 2005 and copies of the report (the results of the 200405 school sport survey) have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

School Transfers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment her Department has made of whether there is a link between pupils who move school often and social and economic deprivation.

Jacqui Smith: The Department commissioned the Pupil Mobility in Schools project to produce a report on the nature and causes of pupil mobility in schools and the implications of high mobility for national strategies to raise achievement. This project identified strong associations between pupil mobility and social deprivation, family break up and moves into and out of temporary accommodation. Mobile pupils are more likely to be eligible for free school meals, have English as an additional language, have a special educational need or have behavioural problems.
	Dobson/Henthorne/Lynas (2000): Pupil Mobility in SchoolsFinal report, London: University College London.

SEN

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils with special educational needs live more than three miles away from the (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special school that they attend; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been provided in the following table.
	
		The number and percentages of pupils with special educational needs who live more than three miles(118) away from the (a) primary, (b)secondary and (c) special school that they attend
		
			  Primary schools Secondary schools Special schools Total 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Total pupils travelling more than 3miles to the school they attend 158,907 100.0 604,240 100.0 47,051 100.0 810,292 100.0 
			  
			 Pupils with no Special Educational Needs 128,836 81.1 523,663 86.7 117 0.2 652,616 80.5 
			 Pupils with Special Educational Needs at School Action 14,864 9.4 45,504 7.5 109 0.2 60,477 7.5 
			 Pupils with Special Educational Needs at School Action Plus 7,955 5.0 19,675 3.3 786 1.7 28,416 3.5 
			 Pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs 7,252 4.6 15,398 2.5 46,039 97.9 68,689 8.5 
		
	
	(118)Distance is measured as a straight line between the pupils home postcode and the school postcode.
	Note:
	One secondary school from within Trafford Education Authority did not return a complete Plasc return in 2005. Therefore figures from this school have been discounted from the above table.
	Source:
	PLASC 2005 Final data

Sickness Absence

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many days were lost due to sickness among (a) teachers and (b) head teachers at (i)primary and (ii) secondary schools in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Sickness absence figures are collected at a national level only. It is not possible to separate school type or grade from this collection.
	The numbers of days lost due to sickness absence for the last five years in England are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Days lost Days lost per teacher 
		
		
			 2000 2,694,400 5.4 
			 2001 2,782,100 5.4 
			 2002 2,739,300 5.3 
			 2003 2,853,600 5.4 
			 2004 2,797,300 5.3 
		
	
	Source:
	DfES Annual Survey of Teachers in Service and Teacher Vacancies (618G)

Special Needs (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding has been allocated to special needs provision in Milton Keynes in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		Budgeted net expenditure on the education of children with special educational needs
		
			   
		
		
			 200102 14,386,000 
			 200203 17,972,000 
			 200304 18,928,000 
			 200405 21,131,000 
			 200506 22,269,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, LEA functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget for special schools. The figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN and, from 200405 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on section 52 for the first time and this accounts for 10,975 and 16,944 of the 200405 and 200506 totals respectively. In 200506 Milton Keynes LEA also budgeted 1,662,081 for the transport of pupils with SEN but this is not included in the above totals as figures are not available prior to 200506.
	2.The figures reported are the amount allocated for SEN by Milton Keynes, as recorded on their section 52 budget statement, and are shown in cash terms and rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

St. John's Secure Unit, Tiffield

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the closure of St. John's Secure Unit in Tiffield, Northamptonshire would necessitate repayment to the Treasury by Northamptonshire county council of the grant given by the Department of Health for its construction.

Maria Eagle: This issue has recently been raised with the Department for Education and Skills by Northamptonshire county council. Discussions are currently taking place between the Department and Her Majesty's Treasury, which are ongoing. The county council's request will be responded to as soon as discussions have been concluded.

Sustainable Development Strategy

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on her Department's sustainable development strategy.

Maria Eagle: We have completed or made progress with four fifths of the sustainable development action plan we launched in 2003. We are considering whether the remaining fifth are still appropriate to pursue. We are also working on producing a new action plan by the end of the year, in the same way that all Government departments have been requested to do in the UK sustainable development strategy.
	Good progress has been made, for example, in school capital with the 'Building schools for the future' programme. It is making an important contribution to sustainable development in the public sector. We plan during 2005 to embed the use of the new schools building research establishments' assessment method (BREEAM) and to publish best practice guidance on sustainable school design.
	The Department has also published 'Putting the World into World Class EducationAn international strategy for education, skills and children's services' which lists sustainable development as one of the eight key concepts for instilling the global dimension into the learning experience of all children and makes a strong commitment to develop and offer educational support programmes to developing countries, especially Africa. The implementation plan for the strategy is currently being developed.

Sustainable Development Strategy

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent steps have been takenby her Department to review its arrangements for public reporting of its sustainable development impacts.

Maria Eagle: The Department is currently reviewing and updating the information contained on its website in the light of the 2005 UK Strategy and the requirement to produce the revised departmental action plans by December 2005.

Sustainable Development Strategy

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements her Department has in place to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts.

Maria Eagle: DfES publicly reports on its key sustainable development impacts via its website and the annual Sustainable Development in Government report.
	The DfES website is currently under review and will be back online shortly.

Teach First Scheme

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the drop out rate was among (a) newly qualified teachers and (b) teachers within the Teach First scheme in the last period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Provisional estimates show that in March 2004 9.3 per cent. of newly qualified teachers, who were in full or part-time regular maintained sector service in England in March 2003, were no longer in such service. This is the latest information available.
	Information from the Training and Development Agency for the Teach First scheme shows that in 200405 of the 197 students who were recruited 176 attained qualified teacher status. This represents a drop-out rate of 10.7 per cent. It is not known what proportion of these teachers remain in teaching service.

Teacher Bursaries

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will offer trainee teachers in the post-16 sector bursaries commensurate with those available to prospective school teachers; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The teacher training bursary initiative is a pilot programme which is currently under review as part of a wider review of recruitment and retention incentives for FE teachers. The results of the review will be announced shortly.

Timber Procurement

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The Department has not engaged in any building or building refurbishment projects in 200405 or plans to start any building or building refurbishment projects in 200506. Therefore no timber will be procured by the Department or its suppliers.
	Were the Department to require a refurbishment or building project, all timber used would comply with BREEAM guidelines in respect timber supplied from legal and sustainable resources.

Truancy

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many truancy sweeps have taken place within the Bedfordshire local education authority in each year since 1999; how many children were stopped in that period; how many children stopped did not have a valid reason for absence; how many hours of police time were spent on such sweeps; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Local authorities have the discretion to organise truancy sweeps as they see fit and we do not collect data on these locally arranged sweeps. However, the Department has invited authorities to take part in nationally co-ordinated sweeps each autumn and spring since 200203. Bedfordshire has taken part in each of these sweeps and provided the following data to the Department:
	
		
			  Number 
			  Truancy sweeps Children stopped Children stopped without a valid reason 
		
		
			 Autumn 2002 (119) 215 39 
			 Spring and autumn 2003 28 178 62 
			 Spring and autumn 2004 36 143 52 
			 Spring 2005 20 105 41 
		
	
	(119)Data not collected.
	We do not collect data on the length of time spent on the sweeps by either local authority staff or police officers.
	The Government believe that truancy sweeps are an effective tool to raise the profile of school attendance in the community and help to stop those pupils who may be in the early stages of drifting into the habit of truancy. They also reinforce the message to pupils and their families that school and local authorities take the issue of attendance seriously. Since nationally co-ordinated sweeps began in 2002, some 92,000 pupils have been stopped: 37,000 (nearly 40 per cent.) of them were out of school without a valid reason and 42 per cent. (almost 16,000) of those without a valid reason were with an adult.

Unskilled Adults

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the number of economically inactive adults without a level 2 qualification; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Labour Force Survey estimates that in England, 49 per cent. of economically inactive adults are without a level 2 qualification. This equates to 2,917,000 people.
	In 200506 we will develop the capacity of the further education sector to deliver an entitlement to free tuition to study for a first full level 2 qualification. From September 2006, this entitlement will be available across the whole country, providing those adults taking up training with a platform of skills for employability.
	Under the new deal for skills we are trialling skills coaching and skills passports to help inactive adults develop the skills they need to return to the labour market and secure sustainable employment.

Video Conferencing Units

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) her Department and (b) each agency of her Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are increase the number of such units.

Beverley Hughes: Every DfES building has a number of video conferencing units installed within it as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Darlington 7 
			 London(120) 20 
			 Runcorn 5 
			 Sheffield 11 
		
	
	(120)14 Sanctuary Buildings/6 Caxton House.
	As the Department no longer has Agencies, no figures have been included in respect of that part of the question.
	At the present time, there are no formal plans to increase the number of Video conferencing units in the Department but we constantly monitor the amount of use made of the studios to inform decisions about the potential need for extra facilities.

Vocational/Academic Education

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to extend existing vocational education schemes; what plans she has to implement new strategies to deliver the necessary skills to meet employers' demands; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Government are committed to ensuring that employers have the right skills to support the success of their businesses and that individuals gain the skills they need to be employable and personally fulfilled.
	Our 1419 Education and Skills White Paper set out a radical reform agenda. There will be a full range of quality vocational opportunities from age 14 for young people of all abilities. We will introduce a new, high quality pathway of vocational learning from 1419, leading to specialised diploma qualifications; we are piloting a work-focused programme for 14 to 16-year-olds with serious barriers to engagement; we will increase numbers of young people taking apprenticeships and increase the quality of the programme.
	The two Skills White Papers set out our strategies for ensuring that skills training meets the needs of employers. The new National Employer Training Programme will provide packages of free training in the workplace, and subsidised training at higher levels, designed for employers and delivered to suit their operational needs. Employers will have increased opportunities to lead the design and delivery of training through the network of 25 Sector Skills Councils, to be completed next month, and 12 National Skills Academies by 2007/08.

Vocational/Academic Education

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment the Department has made of the impact of (a) graduate apprenticeships, (b) vocational certificates of education and (c) vocational GCSEs on (i) the workforce, (ii)employers and (iii) the economy since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Graduate apprenticeships were announced in 1998 but subsequently replaced by foundation degrees in 2001, although some sectors still fund their own work based learning at higher education level. No formal evaluation of graduate apprenticeships was undertaken.
	Vocational certificates of education (or vocational A-levels) replaced advanced GNVQs in 2000 but have now been redesigned for 2005 as general certificates of education in applied subjects. Just under 40,000 1618 year-olds finished their VCE in 200304. Given how recently these were introduced the Department has not made the type of assessments requested.
	GCSEs in vocational subjects were introduced for first teaching in 2002. A relatively small entry of 113,202 sat the first examinations in 2004 and many of the candidates will still be in further education. The Department has therefore not made the type of assessments referred to in respect of this qualification.

Voice Training

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Teacher Training Agency on the role of voice training in the training of teachers; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the role of voice training in the training of teachers; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Teaching involves a variety of skills and trainee teachers learn how to create lessons where pupils want to learn and where teachers do not need to shout. To meet the rigorous standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), trainee teachers need to demonstrate that they can create such learning environments. Nonetheless, voice care is important for teachers at every stage of their careers. The training leading up to QTS is the very beginning of a teacher's learning about how to teach. Once a teacher has gained QTS they will pursue continuing professional development opportunities throughout their careers including, if their school agrees it is needed, voice care training.

Watermark Project

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department has joined the Watermark project.

Bill Rammell: DfES was a member of the Watermark project from 2002. Although the project has now ended, our contract with their appointed consultant remains in place.

Departmental Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the websites that come under her Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year.

Bill Rammell: The websites that the Department is responsible for are listed below, along with the number of visits to each for 2004 (the last whole year that stats are available for):
	
		
			  
		
		
			 www.dfes.gov.uk 10,859,230 
			 www, teachernetgov.uk 4,308,205 
			 www.connexions-direct.com 1,388,251 
			 www.surestart.gov.uk 1,050,171 
			 www.aimhigher.ac.uk 932,165 
			 www.parentcentre.gov.uk 881,819 
			 www.governornet.co.uk 662,607 
			 www.wavtolearn.co.uk 417,376 
			 www.need2know.co.uk 274,571 
			 www.skillsforemplovers.gov.uk 119,324 
			 Total number of visits 20,893,719 
		
	
	The hosting cost of these sites was 1,235,500.
	The Department currently has large numbers of sub-sites falling under the main sites listed in the response and these are developed by policy teams using their own budgets. It would therefore be a difficult and time-consuming task to co-ordinate across all policy directorates and communications teams (for campaign sites) to assess overall costs.
	The Department is working towards consolidation of these sites (which run into hundreds) into a small number of sites which specialise in delivering information and services to a particular audience, (e.g. for those working in schools). As well as this the new technical infrastructure, currently in procurement stage, will provide a centralised content management system (CMS) which means that more costs will be centralised, which will deliver better value for money.

Youth Services

Edward Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many youth clubs were available in (a) England, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) Doncaster North in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: Youth clubs are delivered locally by local authority youth services and national and local voluntary youth organisations. Information is not held centrally on the number of youth clubs run by each individual local authority.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Audit Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what proportion of invoices were paid on time by the Audit Commission in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what percentage of the top 5 per cent. highest paid salaried employees within the Audit Commission are women;
	(3)  what percentage of the top five per cent. highest paid salaried employees within the Audit Commission are from black and minority ethnic communities;
	(4)  how many working days were lost due to sickness absence in the Audit Commission in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(5)  what the percentage of disabled employees is in the Audit Commission;
	(6)  what percentage of the Audit Commission's buildings are accessible to disabled people.

Phil Woolas: These are operational matters for the Audit Commission. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

Audit Commission

David Anderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many local authorities have been certifiedby the Audit Commission as applying the best value code of practice in local authority service contracts.
	(2)  if he will list cases of non-compliance with the best value code of practice on workforce matters in local authority service contracts that have been raised with the Audit Commission.

Phil Woolas: This concerns an operational issue for the Audit Commission. I will ask them to write to my hon. Friend and make copies of the letter available in the House Library.

Audit Commission

David Anderson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the results of his Department's investigation into the monitoring of the best value code of practice in local authority service contracts.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has commissioned a research team led by the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) at the university of Birmingham to conduct a four year evaluation of the procurement agenda as it has developed since 1999.
	The Evaluation of the Local Government Procurement AgendaBaseline Survey Report (ODPM, August 2005), included information on incorporation of the code in contracts. The survey showed that:
	69 per cent. of authorities include workforce matters as standard in services contracts, 52 per cent. do so in works contracts and 36 per cent. in goods contracts;
	37 per cent. of LAs (involved in a staff transfer) used client inspection to monitor workforce issues for transferred staff and 24 per cent. used annual supplier self-reporting;
	14 per cent. of LAs involved in a transfer did not use any mechanism to monitor this issue.

Audit Commission

Brian Binley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the Audit Commission to publish the final key lines of inquiry for the corporate assessment of councils under the comprehensive performance assessment process.

Phil Woolas: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission. I will ask the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member and to ensure the answer is made available to the House.

Canvey Island (Gas Importation)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will call in for public inquiry any planning application to reactivate Canvey Island liquid natural gas importation facility.

Yvette Cooper: The Government Office for the East of England is monitoring the proposal; any decision to call in the application for planning permission will take account of our published criteria.

Coalfield Housing

Tony Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are to extend the national coalfield housing agenda to include former National Coal Board housing estates in areas of high housing demand.

Yvette Cooper: Regional Housing Boards are responsible for developing strategies for addressing housing issues in their Regions. Each of the Regional Housing Boards for which former National Coal Board estates are a significant issue set out their plans for dealing with such housing in their first strategies, published in 2003. In the West Midlands, the Regional Housing Board has initiated research to provide more information on all areas of high priority highlighted in its Strategy, including former National Coal Board housing. The research identified the eight former National Coal Board estates that are most urgently in need of intervention. This work will help to inform the revised Regional Housing Strategy, and future funding decisions.

Core Cities

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition his Department uses of the term core cities.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister use the general term core cities to refer to all major regional cities in England. More specifically there are the core citiesthe eight members of the English core cities group of local authoritiesBirmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield. They began working together in the mid 1990s to raise the profile and prosperity of our major cities. From 200204, these formed part of a joint core cities working group with central government and the regional development agencies to explore ways of enhancing the potential of all core cities as drivers of regional and national economic competitiveness.

Correspondence

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's policy is for dealing with and responding to correspondence received in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no formal requirement for its staff to be able to respond in any language other than English.
	The Office has a contract in place for interpretation and translation services and should the need arise regularly this contract could be used to provide support to particular ODPM staff in their handling of correspondence.

Council Housing (Right to Buy)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average (a) house price value and (b) cost to the purchaser was after the discount of a right to buy council property in England in (i) 1997 and (ii) the latest available year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Average market value and average selling price figures for all council right to buy sales in England for 199798 and 200304 are tabled as follows:
	
		
		
			  199798 200304 
		
		
			 Market value(121) 42.9 68.2 
			 Selling price 21.5 43.2 
		
	
	(121)Market value=selling price plus discount.
	Source:
	Quarterly returns on council house sales (P1B) from local authorities to the ODPM.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average (a) band D council tax bill and (b) council tax per dwelling was in (i) England, (ii)Solihull and (iii) Birmingham in each year since the establishment of council tax.

Phil Woolas: Details of the average band D council tax bill and average council tax per dwelling in (a) England, (b) Birmingham and (c) Solihull in each year since the establishment of council tax in 199394 are shown in the following table.
	
		Average council taxes 199394 to 200506 -- 
		
			  Band D, two adults for area Average per dwelling 
			  England Birmingham Solihull England Birmingham Solihull 
		
		
			 199394 568 657 520 456 455 471 
			 199495 580 632 544 473 441 502 
			 199596 609 673 595 498 485 549 
			 199697 646 749 626 525 536 572 
			 199798 688 794 661 564 570 607 
			 199899 747 846 703 614 606 646 
			 19992000 798 893 742 656 638 687 
			 200001 847 938 786 697 670 726 
			 200102 901 979 852 741 699 783 
			 200203 976 1,026 910 804 739 837 
			 200304 1,102 1,079 1,008 908 779 924 
			 200405 1,167 1,106 1,045 967 787 957 
			 200506 1,214 1,139 1,095 1,009 820 1,003 
		
	
	The amounts shown are headline taxes, before transitional reliefs and benefits and after capping and are taken from BR1, BR2, BR3 and CTB1 forms, as reported by the local authorities.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much revenue was raised from council tax in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in (i) 199798 and (ii) 200405; and what the projected level is for 200506.

Phil Woolas: The revenue received from council tax in England in 199798 and 200405 was 9,570 million and 17,372 million respectively. These figures include both arrears received for previous years and prepayment of council tax for subsequent years.
	The council tax requirement for England for 200506 is 18,354 million. This is net of council tax benefit grant and does not make any allowance for arrears received in 200506 for previous years or any prepayment of council tax for subsequent years. In practice not all of this amount will be received in 200506.
	Data for revenue raised from council tax in Wales and Scotland are available from the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Executive respectively.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the real terms percentage change in average band D council tax in England has been in each year since the introduction of council tax.

Phil Woolas: The real terms percentage changes in average band D council tax in England in each year since the introduction of council tax are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage real term increase 
		
		
			 199495 -0.4 
			 199596 1.6 
			 199697 3.6 
			 199798 4.0 
			 199899 4.4 
			 19992000 5.1 
			 200001 3.0 
			 200102 4.5 
			 200203 6.7 
			 200304 9.5 
			 200405 3.3 
			 200506 0.8 
		
	
	The figures are calculated from data reported by local authorities, are taken from BR1, BR2, BR3 and CTB1 forms and have been adjusted using the all items retail prices index (RPI) as at April each year.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Government have made of the effect of the council tax revaluation on average council tax bills in London.

Phil Woolas: The terms of reference for Sir Michael Lyons' independent inquiry require him to make recommendations on how best to reform council tax, taking into account revaluation of domestic property. My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have agreed with Sir Michael that he will extend his work so that he can consider issues relating to the functions of local government and its future role, as well as, and prior to, making recommendations on local government funding. The Government have announced that they will legislate to postpone council tax revaluation to take account of the Lyons Inquiry's extended work which will inform the comprehensive spending review 2007.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment the Government have made of the effect of the council tax revaluation on the revenues to be raised from the additional levy to be charged on London council tax bills to fund the Olympics.

Phil Woolas: The council tax is one element of a public funding package, which has been put in place to cover the cost of hosting the games. This package includes provision for up to 1.5 billion of lottery funding and up to 625 million from London council tax. A council tax revaluation would not affect the total revenues that may need to be raised for the Olympics from council taxpayers in London.

Departmental Estate

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total floor space is of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total floor space area is of buildings (a) owned and (b) leased by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The total floor space of buildings owned and leased by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies as at September 2005 is as follows:
	
		Sq m
		
			  Owned Leased 
		
		
			 ODPM 11,756 82,076 
			 Agencies 38,349 13,160 
		
	
	Of the figures given for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, one of the freehold buildings is Burlington House which is leased to the Royal Academy and five Learned Societies. The data include the space that other Government Departments occupy in buildings owned or leased by ODPM but do not include space that the office occupies in other Government Departments' buildings.
	These figures do not include buildings occupied by Government offices which perform functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Publications

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many publications his Department has produced in each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002.
	In the year 200203 we produced 422 new publications, in the year 200304 455 new publications and in 200405 521 new publications.

Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what websites come under his Department's responsibility.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The answer is as follows:
	www.odpm.gov.uk
	www.neighbourhood.gov.uk
	www.socialexclusion.gov.uk
	www.bvpi.gov.uk (Best value performance indicators)
	www.publications.odpm.gov.uk
	www.spkweb.org.uk (Supporting people programme)
	http://www.gos.gov.uk/national (Government office for the regions)
	www.fti.neighbourhood.gov.uk (Floor Targets Interactive)
	www.localegov.gov.uk
	www.rmd.odpm.gov.uk (Research programmes)
	www.info41ocal.gov.uk
	www.firekills.gov.uk (Fire safery campaigns)
	www.renewal.net
	www.firesafetytoolbox.org.uk
	www.cleanersafergreener.gov.uk
	www.iggi.gov.uk (Intra governmental geographic information)
	www.frstoolkit.odpm.gov.uk (Fire and rescue service recruitment)
	www.futureleadership.gov.uk
	www.spdirectory.org.uk (Supporting people directory of services)
	www.nlud.org.uk (National land use directory)
	www.planningportal.gov.uk
	www.procurementportal.odpm.gov.uk
	www.firelink.org.uk
	www.firecontrol.odpm.gov.uk
	www.local.odpm.gov.uk (Local government finance)
	www.xoq83.dial.pipex.com (Local government pension scheme)
	www.bmespark.org.uk (Black minority ethnic supporting people)

Disabled Access

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of his Department's buildings are accessible to disabled people.

Jim Fitzpatrick: 88 per cent. of the buildings occupied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are accessible for disabled people. This represents 15 out of 17 buildings.
	The two buildings, both of which are inaccessible to people with ambulatory difficulties, are a small office in Glossop, which is situated on the first floor above a high street bank, and a small office facility adjacent to the main storage hangers at Marchington. The former is nearing the end of its lease.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Disabled Employees

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage of disabled employees in his Department is.

Jim Fitzpatrick: ODPM have recently carried out a diversity survey of its staff. The results of this survey show that 5 per cent. of staff, who responded to our Race Equality Survey, declared themselves as being disabled.

Empty Properties (Suffolk)

David Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister howmany empty properties there have been in each local authority area in Suffolk for each of the last four years.

Yvette Cooper: The available information on empty homes in each local authority area in Suffolk is given in the following table. This comes from a combination of data supplied by local authorities on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM's) housing strategy statistical appendix return and the housing corporation's regulatory and statistical return.
	
		Total vacant dwellings at 1 April by local authority area in Suffolk, 200104
		
			 Local Authority name 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Babergh 658 534 1,018 963 
			 Forest Heath 603 603 455 393 
			 Ipswich 1,827 1,754 1,584 1,752 
			 Mid Suffolk 1,475 1,470 1,464 1,622 
			 St. Edmundsbury 1,057 1,016 1,019 610 
			 Suffolk Coastal 2,343 2,060 1,859 1,495 
			 Waveney 1,401 2,265 3,450 1,520 
			 Suffolk 9,364 9,702 10,849 8,355 
		
	
	Sources:
	ODPM's annual housing strategy statistical appendix (HSSA) returns and the housing corporation's annual regulatory and statistical return (RSR).

Energy Efficiency

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets he has set for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve these targets.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has adopted the energy targets as set out in the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. These include to reduce energy consumption by 15 per cent. by 201011 over the 19992000 baseline (as measured by fuel/electricity used per m 2 .)
	Projects are under way to increase energy efficiency and achieve the targets. These include working in partnership with The Carbon Trust, who are undertaking energy audits in the Office's HQ buildings. The results of these audits have been included in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which outlines short, medium and long-terms projects to be implemented in order to achieve the required energy targets. These actions were agreed with the ODPM Management Board earlier this year.
	These actions are included within the certificated and independently audited ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has developed to manage our response to the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.

Equality and Diversity

David Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Department has spent promoting equality and diversity in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: ODPM is fully committed to promoting equality and diversity within all policy areas in support of the Government's commitment to a diverse and integrated society. It has a number of policies and processes in place to ensure that there is no unfair discrimination on any grounds. Equality and diversity lie at the heart of creating sustainable communities and the Office seeks to embed these principles into all of its activities.
	It should be noted that ODPM was created in May 2002 therefore data are not available before this date. The figures supplied are for staff and project costs identified within ODPM's equality and diversity unit (EDU) and equality and diversity-related costs within the Department's neighbourhood renewal unit (NRU).
	
		
			  Total 
		
		
			 200203 462,000 
			 200304 921,000 
			 20045 951,000 
			 200506 (forecast) 1,105,000

European Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to his office.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following contractor based in other EU member states provides services:
	Kuiken Hytrans BV

Extended Home Ownership Programme

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people he estimates will be eligible for his Department's extended home ownership programme in each London borough; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Our new Homebuy scheme will commence in April 2006. The New Build and Open Market options will contribute towards helping around 100,000 households into home ownership by 2010. The scheme will be available to social tenants, those on them housing register, key public sector workers and other first time buyers prioritised for assistance in their region by Regional Housing Boards.
	It is not possible to estimate at the moment the number of people in each region who will be eligible. In London, and other regions, eligibility will depend on the priorities for investment established with the Regional Housing Board and decisions taken on the Housing Corporation's National Affordable Housing Programme 200608 which will be announced early in 2006.
	In addition, Social Homebuy will provide new opportunities for social tenants to buy a share of their home at a discount. Social landlords are being encouraged to participate, but as it is a voluntary scheme it will be up to individual landlords to decide whether to operate the scheme in any given area.

Fire Deaths

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths there have been in dwellings in each London (a) constituency and (b) borough in each year since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of fire related deaths (accidental and deliberate) in dwellings in each London constituency recorded by the London Fire Brigade for the years between 2000 and 2004 is as follows:
	
		Fire deathsLondon constituency
		
			 Constituency 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Barking   3 2  5 
			 Battersea  1  1 2 4 
			 Beckenham 41 5 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 2 3 1   6 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford 1   1 1 3 
			 Brent East  4 1   5 
			 Brent North  2   1 3 
			 Brent South  1 1 2 1 5 
			 Brentford and Isleworth  2 1 2 1 6 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 1  1  1 3 
			 Camberwell and Peckham1  1 
			 Carshalton and Wallington  1  2 2 5 
			 Chingford and Woodford Green 1 1 1   3 
			 Chipping Bamet  1  1 1 3 
			 Cities of London and Westminster  2 2   4 
			 Croydon Central  1 1  2 4 
			 Croydon North 1 34 
			 Croydon South   1  2 3 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 1 12 
			 Ealing North  1 5 2  8 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 1  1 1  3 
			 Ealing, Southall 1 2 2 4  9 
			 East Ham 3 2  4  9 
			 Edmonton1  1 
			 Eltham  1   1 2 
			 Enfield North   1   1 
			 Enfield, Southgate 2 2   2 6 
			 Erith and Thamesmead 1  1 1  3 
			 Feltham and Heston  2  1  3 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 1 1 1 1  4 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 1 1 2   4 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 1  1 4  6 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 4 2 2  1 9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham  1 2 2 2 7 
			 Hampstead and Highgate  1 2 2 1 6 
			 Harrow East   1 1  2 
			 Harrow West 3 2  2  7 
			 Hayes and Harlington  1   1 2 
			 Hendon 1 1  1  3 
			 Holbom and St. Pancras 2  2 2  6 
			 Hornchurch  1  1  2 
			 Homsey and Wood Green  2 1 1 1 5 
			 Ilford North 1   1  2 
			 Ilford South 1   3  4 
			 Islington North 1 1 1 2 1 6 
			 Islington South and Finsbury  3  1  4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1  2 1 1 5 
			 Kingston and Surbiton  1 1  1 3 
			 Lewisham East  1  1 1 3 
			 Lewisham West1 1 2 
			 Lewisham, Deptford  7 2 1 2 12 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 1  1 2  4 
			 Mitcham and Morden  1  1  2 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 1  2 1  4 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 2 1 1 3  7 
			 Orpington 3 3 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 1  1 2  4 
			 Putney 1 1 
			 Regent's Park and Kensington North   2  1 3 
			 Richmond Park 2  1  1 4 
			 Romford 1 1 
			 Ruislip-Northwood   1 1  2 
			 Streatham  1  1  2 
			 Sutton and Cheam 2  1   3 
			 Tooting 1  2   3 
			 Tottenham  1 1 1  3 
			 Twickenham 1  1 1  3 
			 Upminster  1 2 1  4 
			 Uxbridge 1 1 
			 Vauxhall  1  2 1 4 
			 Walthamstow 2  1 2 2 7 
			 West Ham  1 1  3 5 
			 Wimbledon  1  2 1 4 
			 Grand total 50 67 61 74 45 297 
		
	
	Source:
	London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
	The number of fire related deaths (accidental and deliberate) in dwellings in each London borough recorded by the London Fire Brigade for the years between 2000 and 2004 is as follows.
	
		Fire deathsLondon borough
		
			 Borough name 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham   3 2  5 
			 Bamet 2 3 1 3 1 10 
			 Bexley 3 1 2 4 1 11 
			 Brent  7 2 2 2 13 
			 Bromley 5  1  5 11 
			 Camden 2 1 4 4 1 12 
			 City of London  11 
			 Croydon 1 4 2  3 10 
			 Ealing 1 3 7 7  18 
			 Enfield 2 2 1 1 2 8 
			 Greenwich 2 2 2 1 1 8 
			 Hackney 5 2 3 4 1 15 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1 1 3 2 2 9 
			 Haringey  3 2 2 1 8 
			 Harrow 3 2 1 3  9 
			 Havering  2 2 2 1 7 
			 Hillingdon  1 1 1 2 5 
			 Hounslow  4 1 3 1 9 
			 Islington 1 4 1 3 1 10 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1  3 1 1 6 
			 Kingston 2 1 1  2 6 
			 Lambeth 1 3  3 1 8 
			 Lewisham  8 2 3 4 17 
			 Merton 2  3 1 6  
			 Newham 3 3 1 4 3 14 
			 Redbridge 3  1 5  9 
			 Richmond 1  2 1  4 
			 Southwark 1  2 2  5 
			 Sutton 2 1 1 2 3 9 
			 Tower Hamlets 3 3 2 2  10 
			 Waltham Forest 3 1 2 3 2 11 
			 Wandsworth 2 1 2 1 2 8 
			 Westminster  1 3  1 5 
			 Total 50 67 61 74 45 297 
		
	
	Source:
	London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

Fire Deaths

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths have occurred in dwellings in (a) Richmond-upon-Thames borough and the (b) the Royal borough of Kingston-upon-Thames since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The fire related deaths (accidental and deliberate) in dwellings in Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames for the calendar years since 2000 are as follows:
	
		Fire deaths
		
			  Kingston-upon-Thames Richmond-upon-Thames 
		
		
			 2000 2 1 
			 2001 1 0 
			 2002 1 2 
			 2003 0 1 
			 2004 2 0 
			 Total 6 4 
		
	
	Source:
	London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority
	The Kingston figures include one fatality in 2004 where there was no fire brigade attendance, but where the coroner has ruled that the death was fire related.

Fire Service

Michael Clapham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the fire and rescue services building control performance handbook will next be updated; and what key performance indicators he plans to include.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We are carrying out a consultation of a revision of the Building Regulations and Fire Safety Procedural Guidance, a document which sets out protocols for the communication of fire safety information and views between building control bodies, fire and rescue services and applicants for building regulatory approval.
	The revision is necessary to reflect the proposed changes to fire safety law that will be brought about by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We will review the responses to that consultation when the consultation closes in mid-November and expect to finish the revised document in the spring of next year.
	We have also developed, in parallel, in consultation with stakeholders including the chief fire officers' association (CFOA), key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the overall performance of building control bodies. We have liaised with CFOA about the inclusion of a specific KPI on building control bodies' consultation of fire and rescue services in order to measure the perceptions of the fire and rescue services of the value provided by consultation with building control bodies.
	It is hoped that the KPIs can be launched on the ODPM website later this year, and included on the Audit Commission's library of local performance indicators website.

Fire Service

Michael Clapham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are in place to ensure advice from consultants on fire risk assessments under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is (a) competent, (b) impartial and (c) professional.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 does not impose specific requirements about the competence, impartiality or professionalism of consultants employed to undertake a fire risk assessment on behalf of a responsible person.
	However, where a person has obligations under a contract covering the safety of premises then that contractor is treated much in the same way as a responsible person to the extent that their safety obligations extend. The full enforcement powers together with the legal penalties associated with them can be brought to bear on such a contractor.
	The responsible person remains responsible for ensuring that a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks has been undertaken and if he fails to do this then the enforcement powers and penalties can be brought to bear upon that person.

Fire Service

Michael Clapham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to use third party accreditation schemes for fire protection contracts under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no such plans. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order requires the responsible person to appoint one or more competent persons to implement and maintain necessary preventative and protection measures. Third party accreditation schemes are one means that a contractor may use to show they have the appropriate training and experience or knowledge and other qualities to enable them properly to assist in undertaking these measures.

Fire Service

Michael Clapham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to update guidance to fire and rescue services on the operation of electrical equipment on the fire ground.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no plans to issue revised guidance to fire and rescue services on the operation of electrical equipment.

Fire Service

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have been employed in the fire services in England since 2000, broken down by (a) ethnicity and (b) gender; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of successful applicants for employment in fire and rescue services in England in each year since 2000, broken down by ethnicity and gender, is set out in the tables.
	
		Gender and ethnicity of successful applicants to the Fire and Rescue Service
		
			  200001 
		
		
			 Gender  
			 Male 3,017 
			 Female 853 
			 Total 3,870 
			   
			 Ethnicity  
			 White 3,728 
			 Black Caribbean 38 
			 Black African 12 
			 Black other 25 
			 Indian 11 
			 Pakistani 6 
			 Bangladeshi 2 
			 Chinese 3 
			 Other Asian 4 
			 Other 33 
			 Total(122)(5508110123)(124) 3,862 
		
	
	(122)Nottingham had 4 male successful applicants whose ethnicity was not stated.
	(123)Hereford and Worcester two male and one female successful applicants whose ethnicity was not stated.
	(124)Cambridgeshire had 1 successful applicant whose ethnicity was not stated.
	Source:
	ODPM Annual returns.
	
		Gender and ethnicity of successful applicants to the Fire and Rescue Service
		
			  200102(125) 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Gender
			 Male 3,004 2,992 3,007 
			 Female 970 970 1,270 
			 Total 3,974 3,962 4,277 
			 
			 Ethnicity
			 White(126)
			 British 3,172 3,615 3,733 
			 Irish 6 9 20 
			 Other white 114 23 67 
			 Mixed
			 White and black Caribbean 4 8 18 
			 White and black African 1 1 3 
			 White and Asian 4 6 7 
			 Other mixed 3 11 13 
			 
			 Asian or Asian British
			 Indian 14 22 40 
			 Pakistani 7 8 12 
			 Bangladeshi 0 0 3 
			 Other Asian 5 10 10 
			 
			 Black or black British
			 Caribbean 29 46 44 
			 African 7 22 51 
			 Other black 12 9 7 
			 
			 Chinese or other not stated
			 Chinese 6 9 4 
			 Other 12 11 49 
			 Total 3,484 3,962 4,277 
		
	
	(125)Ethnicity figures for 200102 exclude London who had not adopted the 16+1 breakdown for that year.
	In 200102, London had 451 successful applicants (373 white, 72 minority ethnic, six not stated).
	(126)Northamptonshire was unable to provide a detailed breakdown of the 'white' category. In 200102, Northamptonshire had 39 successful applicants who were classified as 'white'.
	Source:
	ODPM Annual returns.
	In the period 31 March 2000 to 31 March 2004, the number of women employed by Fire and Rescue Services in England increased by 1,338. In the same period, the number of personnel who classified themselves as belonging to one of the minority ethnic groups increased by 468.

Fire Service

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the cost of the proposed regionalisation of fire control.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Over a 15 year period (200405 to 201819) running the control service and implementing the FiReControl project is expected to cost 988 million. Over the first six years, the Government will spend an additional 74 million over and above Fire and Rescue Authority's forecasts for replacing existing controls, as part of its substantial investment in the modernisation of the fire and rescue service. After all nine controls are operating it is expected that there will be annual savings of over 20 million (30 per cent. reduction in annual running costs), recouping the initial investment and freeing up additional resources, which will be available for spending on other local initiatives such as community fire safety. Over the same 15 year period, leaving the control service in the existing 46 controls would cost 1,090 million and would not provide a fully resilient service.

Fire Service

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his plans for reform of fire services in the (a) Hemel Hempstead constituency and (b) South West Hertfordshire constituency.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Fire and rescue authorities are required by the fire and rescue service national framework to have in place and maintain an integrated risk management plan (ERMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. It is, therefore, for Hertfordshire county council fire authority to determine appropriate fire cover in its area including the constituencies of Hemel Hempstead and South West Herts.

Fire Service

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deliberate fires have been recorded in (a) Richmond-upon-Thames borough and (b) the Royal borough of Kingston-upon-Thames since 2000.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of deliberate primary and secondary fires recorded by the London Fire Brigade for Richmond and Kingston boroughs since 2000 is as follows:
	
		
			  Kingston Richmond 
		
		
			 19992000 563 581 
			 200001 548 505 
			 200102 609 533 
			 200203 522 523 
			 200304 706 750 
			 200405 568 462 
			 Total 3,516 3,354 
		
	
	Source:
	London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

Freedom of Information

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases information was (a) wholly exempted, (b) partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State for the Department for Constitutional Affairs to the hon. Member on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W.

Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many requests his Department has received to date for information under the environmental information regulations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: In the six months to 30 June 2005, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (including the Government office network) received 69 different requests for information which fell into the definition of environmental information and were handled under the environmental information regulations.

Government Offices for the Regions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) expenditure and (b) administration costs of each Government office for the regions were in each year since their creation; and what the estimated figure for 200506 is.

Yvette Cooper: (a) The administrative running cost expenditure for each Government office for the period since their creation is detailed in the table. The table includes the current allocation for the present financial year, 200506.
	(b) Programme budgets administered by the Government offices are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for the relevant sponsor Departments. Information is however contained in GO Annual Reports, as given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 1463W.
	
		Government office administrative running costs -- 000
		
			 GO 199495 199596 199697 199798 
		
		
			 North East 9,173.60 8,842.76 8,687.15 8,616.75 
			  
			 North West 11,593.30 9,983.71 9,839.09 9,442.59 
			 Merseyside 4,834.10 4,753.84 4,349.95 4,199.53 
			 Total North West/  Merseyside 16,427.40 14,737.55 14,189.04 13,642.12 
			  
			 Yorks and Humber 9,809.90 9,060.51 8,765.04 8,475.01 
			  
			 West Midlands 11,057.50 10,435.73 10,040.37 9,757.79 
			  
			 East Midlands 7,658.80 7,116.85 6,616.67 6,436.24 
			  
			 East 6,231.50 6,122.84 6,168.97 6,270.62 
			  
			 South West 6,741.10 7,574.14 7,140.74 6,825.73 
			  
			 South East 8,224.00 8,331.06 8,406.18 8,544.99 
			  
			 London 12,251.20 11,106.26 14,106.47 13,458.82 
			  
			 Total 87,575.00 83,327.70 84,120.63 82,028.07 
		
	
	
		000
		
			 GO 199899 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 North East 8,618.84 8,312.05 8,197.33 9,002.29 
			  
			 North West 13,690.13 13,048.58 13,651.03 15,344.87 
			 Merseyside 12.24
			 Total North West/  Merseyside 13,702.37 13,048.58 13,651.03 15,344.87 
			  
			 Yorks and Humber 8,683.92 8,888.68 9,357.48 10,036.85 
			  
			 West Midlands 9,474.35 9,330.15 9,960.76 10,295.51 
			  
			 East Midlands 6,754.39 6,951.28 7,335.77 8,244.80 
			  
			 East 6,269.43 7,005.47 7,542.48 8,631.95 
			  
			 South West 6,985.03 7,796.87 8,711.38 10,666.90 
			  
			 South East 8,561.40 8,658.61 9,477.26 10,326.44 
			  
			 London 13,238.12 13,715.79 13,860.98 13,161.20 
			  
			 Total 82,287.85 83,707.48 88,094.47 95,710.81 
		
	
	
		000
		
			 GO 200203 200304 200405 200506(127) 
		
		
			 North East 9,954.46 12,164.59 13,811.21 12,837.67 
			  
			 North West 15,523.52 16,744.59 17,566.17 18,067.27 
			 Merseyside 
			 Total North West/  Merseyside 15,523.52 16,744.59 17,566.17 18,067.27 
			  
			 Yorks and Humber 10,943.77 12,344.06 13,423.28 13,471.53 
			  
			 West Midlands 10,662.85 13,378.54 14,957.47 14,534.15 
			  
			 East Midlands 8,713.24 10,955.39 11,698.82 12,940.12 
			  
			 East 9,355.85 12,607.17 14,223.78 13,365.66 
			  
			 South West 11,860.77 13,858.05 14,499.94 14,807.03 
			  
			 South East 10,874.74 14,105.96 14,300.26 14,987.40 
			  
			 London 14,038.84 16,649.56 18,793.48 18,248.20 
			  
			 Total 101,928.04 122,807.89 133,274.41 133,259.03 
		
	
	(127)Allocations for 200506.
	Note:
	GO-North West and GO-Merseyside merged during 199899.

Green Belt

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government are taking to prevent speculative sales of green belt land.

Yvette Cooper: Green belt is a planning designation and the planning system does not control the sale of land. Planning applications would still need to be submitted for the development of green belt land. Such applications would need to be considered in light of the development plan for the area concerned and other material considerations, including national policy on green belts as set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note2 (PPG2). There are no plans to prevent sales of green belt land.

Green Ministers

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months and (b) meetings his Department's Green Minister has attended in the last 12 months in an official capacity within that role.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Following the general election in May, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers.
	My Noble Friend Baroness Andrews was appointed as departmental Sustainable Development Minister following the general election. In July, the Minister attended a breakfast seminar for Sustainable Development Ministers to discuss the sustainable development strategy and Ministers' role in delivering it.
	My Noble Friend Baroness Andrews is overseeing the preparation of the Office's Sustainable Development Action Plan.

Green Ministers

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the meetings at which his Department has been present regarding the delivery of sustainable development across Government as co-ordinated by the Ministerial Sub-committee of Green Ministers.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Although the Government publish the title, membership and terms of reference of cabinet committees, it has been the practice of successive Governments not to disclose details of their proceedings.

Homelessness

Annette Brooke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of providing homelessness services for adults who have previously been in care in the last year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not available centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish further Working Future pilot schemes to assist homeless people into employment, with particular reference to London.

Yvette Cooper: 'Working Future' will test the use of a central block grant to subsidise the cost of procuring temporary accommodation in the private sector, promote affordable rents and improve work incentives for 100 households in three London boroughs. The two year pilot will be fully evaluated as it progresses to inform any further expansion and development. The pilot is part of a wider programme of work we are taking forward with local authorities and others to halve the number of households living in temporary accommodation by 2010, provide more settled homes and help more people into training and employment.

Homelessness

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homeless (a) 16-year-olds and (b) 17-year-olds have been placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

David Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets his Department has set with respect to new levels of house building within (a) the Bury St. Edmunds constituency and (b) the East of England.

Yvette Cooper: The current review of the regional spatial strategy for the east of England will determine how many homes should be built in the east of England and each district council area. It will then be for St. Edmundsbury and Mid Suffolk councils to determine whether those homes are built within their respective areas.

Housing

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many housing schemes approved by local authorities in the most recent year for which figures are available were comprised of (a) 13 housing units, (b) 14 housing units and (c) 15 housing units.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the amount raised per year by licensing fees for homes in multiple occupation.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 308W.

Housing

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses his Department has planned should be built in (a) the county of Bedfordshire, (b) South Bedfordshire district, (c) Mid-Bedfordshire district, (d) the borough of Bedford and (e) the constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire.

Yvette Cooper: The Milton Keynes and South Midlands (MKSM) sub-regional strategy together with the draft East of England plan, known also as draft revisions to regional spatial strategy (RSS) for the East of England, set out the planned scale of house building in Bedfordshire for the period 20012021. The MKSM sub-regional strategy was published in March 2005 and forms part of the development plan for the area. The figures proposed by the East of England regional assembly in the draft East of England plan will be tested at an examination in public commencing in November this year. The final East of England plan is expected to be published early in 2007.

Housing

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responsibilities he has to ensure the implementation of article 217 of the Housing Act 2004.

Yvette Cooper: Section 217 of the Housing Act 2004 requires the Government to take reasonable steps to ensure that by 2010 the general level of energy efficiency of residential accommodation in England has increased by at least 20 per cent. compared with the general level of such energy efficiency in 2000. Such an increase is broadly in line with the energy efficiency aim for England that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs set out in the 2004 Energy Efficiency Action Plan, in compliance with section 2(1) of the Sustainable Energy Act 2003.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister contributes to the Government's drive to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation through its promotion of the Sustainable Buildings Code, the raising of the standards required by the Building Regulations and the delivery of improved heating and insulation through the Decent Homes programme.

Housing

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average monthly rent for (a) a room in a shared house, (b) a one bedroom dwelling, (c) a two bedroom dwelling and (d) a three bedroom dwelling in each London borough was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: Information on private sector rents is only collected on a sample basis and is not available for London boroughs. Social rents for local authority housing and registered social landlord housing are given in the attached spreadsheet in the form of average weekly rent excluding service charges. Information on shared accommodation is not available and bedsits have been excluded.
	
		Latest average weekly rent for social dwellings -- 
		
			  Local authority Registered social landlord 
			  April 2003 April 2004 
			  Number of bedrooms in dwelling 
			 London Borough 1 2 3 1 2 3 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 56.10 58.78 59.92 54.22 69.81 76.43 
			 Barnet 52.69 62.29 70.63 62.12 74.57 87.40 
			 Bexley no stock no stock no stock 45.31 65.84 88.64 
			 Brent 60.91 69.73 81.16 62.18 72.36 83.32 
			 Bromley no stock no stock no stock 57.56 71.57 82.35 
			 Camden 61.62 71.08 80.42 65.47 76.89 87.65 
			 City of London 62.71 69.73 75.38 63.14 67.21 79.69 
			 Croydon 57.63 65.54 79.95 60.08 75.31 87.58 
			 Ealing 57.48 64.05 72.64 62.01 73.56 86.65 
			 Enfield 56.28 66.19 72.61 59.19 71.67 84.16 
			 Greenwich 56.56 60.89 69.86 60.72 70.64 80.05 
			 Hackney 53.37 56.70 63.81 58.91 65.49 75.42 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 57.74 65.01 74.00 60.50 70.62 79.59 
			 Haringey 51.02 60.18 71.23 58.21 69.75 81.33 
			 Harrow 66.56 74.34 87.50 60.54 69.77 83.71 
			 Havering 44.53 53.66 64.18 58.26 69.39 86.98 
			 Hillingdon 62.93 74.07 87.68 60.28 76.35 86.07 
			 Hounslow 52.32 62.30 72.89 61.66 73.63 82.24 
			 Islington 57.36 67.74 75.62 60.33 69.01 77.54 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 63.84 83.19 91.14 59.53 68.49 78.33 
			 Kingston upon Thames 60.52 67.20 79.00 62.88 76.63 87.30 
			 Lambeth 55.88 62.82 73.67 57.42 65.57 75.53 
			 Lewisham 50.97 58.52 66.36 56.68 66.61 78.86 
			 Merton 50.42 60.62 69.36 58.85 73.02 83.41 
			 Newham 49.56 59.37 69.84 60.02 72.22 81.01 
			 Redbridge 64.53 73.21 80.07 64.42 75.03 90.10 
			 Richmond upon Thames no stock no stock no stock 64.98 72.31 76.24 
			 Southwark 55.72 59.03 63.67 57.90 68.36 78.91 
			 Sutton n/a n/a n/a 58.93 73.56 85.30 
			 Tower Hamlets 57.50 70.42 80.99 59.69 67.88 78.30 
			 Waltham Forest 50.93 70.31 86.36 57.14 69.82 83.75 
			 Wandsworth 52.51 76.45 92.35 64.19 74.98 86.35 
			 Westminster 72.95 86.76 100.19 65.33 77.62 84.62 
		
	
	n/a=not available
	Sources:
	Local authority rents from the ODPM Second Advance Claim Form
	Registered social Landlord rents from the Regulatory Statistical Return of the Housing Corporation

Housing

Alan Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the oral answer from the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) of 29 June 2005, Official Report, columns 129596, what methodology was used to calculate the figure of 6.5 billion levered into the housing sector via stock transfers.

Yvette Cooper: The 6.5 billion levered into the housing sector via housing transfer represents the private finance secured by registered social landlords for large-scale voluntary transfers since 1997 as notified to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister when consent for the transfer was sought. This figure does not include any private finance raised for the purchase of the housing.

Invoice Payment

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of invoices were paid on time by his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: For financial year 200405 the percentage of valid invoices paid on time was 98.56 per cent.

IT Failures

Michael Meacher: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what computerisation or IT failures have occurred in public sector projects managed by his Department in each year since 1997; what the contracted cost of the project was in each case; and what estimate he has made of the directand indirect costs of failure or breakdown in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002. Records for IT projects below 90,000 are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	There have been no failures of IT projects above that threshold recorded since the creation of the Office. Like many public bodies the ODPM uses recognised project management methods, such as prince2 and the gateway process promoted by the Office of Government Commerce, to ensure that projects are successful. In addition the ODPM created a project and programme management (PPM) team in February 2004 to support the embedding of project and programme management skills in the ODPM.

Local Government Employees (Political Activities)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government expects to publish its conclusions on the consultation on the code of conduct for local government employees and restrictions on political activities.

Phil Woolas: We are considering the response to this consultation as part of a wider review, including the Standards Board's own review of the code of conduct for members, of the conduct regime for local government. We plan to announce our conclusions on the way forward later this autumn, once we have received the Board's recommendations for the members' code.

Local Government Finance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what wage data and calculations the area cost adjustments are based.

Phil Woolas: The area cost adjustment (ACA) is the element of the funding formula that reflects variation in the cost of service delivery between local authorities. It has two components. The labour cost adjustment is the largest component and takes account of variation in local authority pay costs. The rates cost adjustment is a much smaller and accounts for variations in business rates costs. In 200506 it was calculated using the following data:
	New earnings survey data from 2001, 2002 and 2003;
	Base estimate returns 199293;
	Rateable values and hereditaments at 1 August 2004;
	Estimates of office hereditaments and floorspace 2003;
	The 2005 revaluation of local authority schools undertaken by the valuation office;
	Gross non-domestic rates and increases and reductions in rate yields, as supplied by authorities to the First Secretary of State on the national non-domestic rates provisional contributions return 200405, and the total resident population as at 30 June 2003.
	Detailed information on the calculation of the ACA is available on the ODPM website at:
	http://www.loca!.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0506/acamethQ56s.pdf
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on options to change the local government funding formula, including options for changing the ACA calculation. The consultation document is available at on the ODPM website at:
	http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0607/consult/index.htm
	The consultation ends on 10 October 2005.

Local Government Finance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2005, Official Report, column 315W, on local government finance, what the recommended levels of cash reserves were for each London borough from the district auditor.

Phil Woolas: No information is collected centrally on any views expressed.
	A local authority external auditor may express views on the reserves held by the authority, but it is for the authority to decide on the level of reserves it should budget for. It is not the role of the auditor to recommend a level.
	Any view expressed by the external auditor of a London borough on the adequacy of the council's cash reserves would be a matter between the council and the auditor.

Local Government Finance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much in (a) revenue support grant and (b) specific grants in (i) cash and (ii) real terms has been provided to the City of York in each year since 199798.

Phil Woolas: The amounts of (a) revenue support grant and (b) specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF) City of York has received in cash and real terms each year since 199798 are shown respectively in Table A and Table B.
	
		Table A: Revenue support grant in cash and real terms provided to the City of York in each year since 199798 -- 000
		
			  Cash Real terms (200405 prices) 
		
		
			 199798 38,597 45,338 
			 199899 39,274 44,966 
			 19992000 39,478 44,328 
			 200001 36,900 40,898 
			 200102 40,309 43,599 
			 200203 35,890 37,624 
			 200304 45,361 46,325 
			 200405 51,761 51,761 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Revenue Outturn (RO) data, ONS GDP deflators
	
		Table B: Specific grant inside Aggregate External Finance (AEF) in cash and real terms provided to the City of York in each year since 199798 -- 000
		
			  Cash Real terms (200405 prices) 
		
		
			 199798 3,128 3,674 
			 199899 4,113 4,709 
			 19992000 6,185 6,945 
			 200001 10,977 12,166 
			 200102 15,044 16,272 
			 200203 21,172 22,195 
			 200304 31,192 31,855 
			 200405 31,743 31,743 
		
	
	Source:
	ODPM Revenue Outturn (RO) data, ONS GDP deflators
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities. Additionally, revenue support grant can go up or down from one year to the next as a result of decreases and increases in the amount of redistributed business rates received by the authority.
	Specific grants inside AEF are those revenue grantspaid for councils' core services (such as waste collection), excluding funding for local authorities' housing management.
	The real terms figures have been revalued for previous years at 200405 prices using the latest GDP deflators.

Local Government Finance

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding local authorities in England received from central Government during the last financial year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: In 200405 local government received 60,357 million of central Government funding.
	Notes:
	Central Government funding is defined here as the sum of specific grants inside Aggregate external finance (AEF), formula grant (revenue support grant, redistributed business rates and police grant) and Greater London authority (GLA) grant.
	Source:
	Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: Provisional outturn 200405 found at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/fmance/stats/natstats.htm#rev

Local Government Ombudsman

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many complaints the local government ombudsman has received about each London borough in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many cases the local government ombudsman received relating to each London borough in each year since 1997

Phil Woolas: The local government ombudsman does not make a distinction between complaints received about and complaints relating to local authorities.
	Information held by the ombudsman on the number of complaints relating to each London borough since 1997 is shown on the following tables:
	
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 78 83 98 63 
			 Barnet 76 101 126 121 
			 Bexley 25 36 36 46 
			 Brent 211 276 337 289 
			 Bromley 46 63 82 84 
			 Camden 175 175 149 157 
			 City of London 7 11 7 7 
			 Croydon 106 118 137 182 
			 Ealing 147 222 257 308 
			 Enfield 73 108 107 92 
			 Greenwich 98 96 103 134 
			 Hackney 251 285 465 961 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 71 101 87 100 
			 Haringey 164 179 170 155 
			 Harrow 35 50 43 52 
			 Havering 51 56 41 50 
			 Hillingdon 48 57 62 64 
			 Hounslow 123 110 128 139 
			 Islington 243 350 417 667 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 66 64 56 68 
			 Kingston upon Thames 34 47 49 38 
			 Lambeth 649 629 1,061 1,202 
			 Lewisham 218 204 241 223 
			 Merton 49 51 58 59 
			 Newham 234 204 233 263 
			 Redbridge 63 66 85 61 
			 Richmond upon Thames 50 72 51 50 
			 Southwark 202 308 344 388 
			 Sutton 37 54 59 54 
			 Tower Hamlets 186 225 167 177 
			 Waltham Forest 110 153 169 183 
			 Wandsworth 129 155 158 149 
			 Westminster 158 110 178 322 
		
	
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 78 95 133 103 
			 Barnet 98 111 131 155 
			 Bexley 37 31 43 31 
			 Brent 192 204 201 174 
			 Bromley 118 115 124 110 
			 Camden 191 176 160 258 
			 City of London 8 12 9 14 
			 Croydon 136 114 127 135 
			 Ealing 336 311 347 254 
			 Enfield 109 95 103 114 
			 Greenwich 88 73 102 102 
			 Hackney 650 431 395 412 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 82 101 107 90 
			 Haringey 187 199 203 154 
			 Harrow 59 52 38 61 
			 Havering 66 65 72 85 
			 Hillingdon 69 67 58 60 
			 Hounslow 128 157 160 169 
			 Islington 433 377 316 222 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 79 48 76 45 
			 Kingston upon Thames 36 42 42 35 
			 Lambeth 1,050 606 647 570 
			 Lewisham 228 252 240 249 
			 Merton 60 61 97 76 
			 Newham 223 187 176 165 
			 Redbridge 74 65 70 83 
			 Richmond upon Thames 49 50 47 50 
			 Southwark 374 334 296 309 
			 Sutton 63 56 63 66 
			 Tower Hamlets 170 182 191 175 
			 Waltham Forest 154 144 172 179 
			 Wandsworth 150 138 102 110 
			 Westminster 251 196 273 355

Local Government Ombudsman

Nick Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many complaints he has received regarding the operation of the current local government ombudsman.

Phil Woolas: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government Pensions

David Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the surplus or deficit was of the local government pension scheme for (a) Suffolk county council and (b) each local authority area within Suffolk in each of the last eight years.

Phil Woolas: The Local Government Pension Scheme in England is administered by 81 separate pension fund authorities. The Suffolk County Council Pension Fund is the responsibility of the county council; district councils are employer-members. Actuarial valuations of the pension fund take place every three years, as required by the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997. Contribution rates for each employer are set having regard to the employers' liabilities and the investment programme of the fund. The rates are designed to ensure that Scheme pension funds remain solvent and meet their statutory pension payment responsibilities. Individual local authorities in Suffolk, other than the county council, do not have separate pension funds. The assets and liabilities for the Suffolk county council pension fund for the last three actuarial valuation exercises are as follows:
	
		Suffolk CC pension fund
		
			  Assets ( million) Liabilities ( million) Solvency (Percentage) 
		
		
			 1998 517.9 626.3 81 
			 2001 702.0 835.0 84 
			 2004 775.8 l,035.9 75

London Fire Emergency Control Room

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the London fire emergency control Room at Canary Wharf meets the Government's resilience criteria; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: London is the only region of England which already has a regional fire and rescue control centre. The London regional control centre was planned before the events of 9/11 and before the current resilience criteria were drawn up. Certain improvements to security have been introduced as a result of the events of 9/11.
	The FiReControl project provides for London to be part of the project towards the end of the programme. Decisions on London's control arrangements will be made in discussion with the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if he will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Nine projects involving opinion survey research have been undertaken by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister or its agencies between September 2004 and September 2005.
	1. A Planning Inspectorate customer satisfaction survey, conducted in March 2005 by Faber Maunsell, cost 46,000. Results are available on the web at http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/statement_purpose/surveys/customer_ satisfaction_survey_2004.htm
	2. Consultancy research into public attitudes and behaviours with regard to domestic fire safety and the effects of the ODPM Smoke Alarm Maintenance campaign. The third phase of this involved pre-campaign research in August 2004 and post campaign research in November 2004, conducted by Andrew Irving Associates, cost 15,000. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library shortly.
	3. Consultancy research into public attitudes, awareness and behaviours towards fire safety in the home, to inform future fire safety publicity campaigns and to allow assessment of the effectiveness of campaigns. The research, conducted by Andrew Irving Associates, began in August 2005. Cost for the period August 2005-March 2006 is 88,000. A copy of the report will be placed in the Library shortly.
	4. A telephone survey of applicants for planning consent for minor householder developments plus an interview survey of neighbours of houses where such applications have been made. The survey, conducted by MORI, started in August 2005. The full cost of the survey will be in the region of 63,000. A copy of the research will be made available in the Library on completion of the project.
	5. Research to identify the views of the able bodied as to whether the Part M Building Regulation requirements have enhanced or been detrimental to the functionality of the dwelling for the householder, providing an evaluation of the 1999 amendments as required by statute. Conducted by the Building Research Establishment between May and August 2005, cost 51,000. The intention is to publish the results once the project has been completed.
	6. The English House Condition Survey collects information on the condition of housing stock. It also includes interviews with occupants and some questions cover attitudes to the home, property maintenance, the neighbourhood and the landlord. It runs continuously and is conducted by the Office for National Statistics. The cost of the opinion survey element is estimated at 75,000 per annum. Published reports are made available via the ODPM website at www.odpm.gov.uk/ehcs. The latest results were published in March 2005. Copies of published reports are in the Library
	7. A Review of the Role of Property Owners in Business Improvement Districts included three surveys, all conducted by York Consulting with McCallum Layton:
	A postal survey of BID Managers in July 2005, cost 3,750.
	A telephone survey of property owners involved in BIDS in September 2005, cost 7,200.
	A telephone survey of property owners not involved in BIDS in September 2005, cost 9,900.
	The results of all three will be published and placed in the library on completion.
	8. ODPM commissioned research on attitudes to local public services and how they should be paid for from BMG Research in April 2005 on behalf of the Lyons Inquiry. This involved a face to face survey and the total cost of the research was 93,300. The inquiry intends to publish findings from this research in due course and a copy will be placed in the Library.
	9. A national tracker survey of public attitudes to local government and its services, involving a postal survey of a nationally representative sample of members of the public. This runs from June to September 2005 and was conducted by BMG Research at a cost of 36,000. The findings from this research will be published and a copy placed in the Library.

Overcrowding

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment his Office has made of the health effects of overcrowding in housing.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 July 2005, Official Report, column 1446W.

Overcrowding

Sally Keeble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the consultation on overcrowding standards.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the options for reviewing the statutory overcrowding standards and a decision will be taken on the timing of consultation as soon as possible.

Departmental Stationery

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of (a) copying paper and (b) paper for printed publications used by his Department in (i)200304 and (ii) 200405 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The paper used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for (a) copying paper in 200304 and 200405 contained 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	The paper used for (b) printed publications between 200304 and 200405 contained no less than 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.

Departmental Stationery

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his Department's sites which are included in the Watermark project.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister joined Watermark on its formation in May 2002, and submitted data for its central London HQ buildings Eland House and Ashdown House, as well as for the Planning Inspectorate Agency based at Temple Quay House, Bristol, six Government Offices and six Rent Service Buildings.
	The Watermark Project was managed by OGCbuying.solutions between April 2000 and March 2003 and was therefore effectively drawn to a conclusion over two years ago.

Departmental Stationery

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister by what date his Department expects to implement in full the targets set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to ensure that (a) all copying paper bought by the Department is 100 percent. recycled with a minimum of 75 percent. post-consumer waste content and (b) all paper for printed publications brought by the Department is 60 percent. recycled, of which a minimum is 75 post-consumer waste.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has already met the targets in full. All photocopying paper used by the Office has a 100 percent. post-consumer waste content. Paper purchased for all ODPM publications has no less that 75 percent. post-consumer waste content.

Departmental Stationery

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; and what (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the (A) recycled and (B) post-consumer recycled content of each paper.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The main supplier of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes is Banner using Evolve Office comprising 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	The paper for (d) reports is supplied by Robert Home, Premier Paper, McNoughton's and Howard Smith. All papers used contain a minimum of 75 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	The papers used are as follows:
	Evolve Businesscontaining 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	Cyclus print/offsetcontaining 100 per cent. post-consumer waste.
	Revive un-coatedcontaining 80 per cent. post-consumer waste and 20 per cent. elemental chlorine free pulp.
	Revive matt/silk containing 75 per cent. post-consumer waste and 25 per cent. elemental chlorine free pulp.
	Greencoat velvet containing 80 per cent. post-consumer waste and 20 per cent. totally chlorine free pulp.
	Evolution satin/gloss containing 75 per cent. post-consumer and 20 per cent. elemental chlorine free pulp.

Parish/Town Councils

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) consultation and (b) advisory documents were sent to parish councils in the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire by his Department in each year since 2000.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) on 21 July 2005, Official Report, column 2093W.

Parish/Town Councils

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications for the abolition of (a) parish councils and (b) town councils he has received from district and unitary authorities in each of the past 10 years; and how many he has granted.

Phil Woolas: Since 1997, there have been a number of requests to abolish parishes (and as a consequence, their parish or town councils) as part of proposals to transfer all or part of those parishes to other parish councils. There have only been three requests to abolish parishes outrightall in 2003. Of these, one has been agreed and the parish council is due to be abolished with effect from 1 April 2006.
	Information about requests made before 1997 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Planning Development Grant

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money was allocated for planning development grant in each year since its introduction; and what the estimated budget is for (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708.

Yvette Cooper: The planning delivery grant totalled 50 million in 200304, its year of introduction; 130 million in 200405 and 170 million in 200506. The estimated budgets for 200607 and 200708 are respectively 135 million and 120 million.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 124W, on the private finance initiative, what total value of assets and liabilities for each of the listed private finance initiatives and public private partnerships is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally-accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

Phil Woolas: Further to the answer given on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 124W, to the hon. Member, the Private Finance Initiatives listed are all off-balance sheet and not recorded on the Government Balance Sheet.
	(a) The balance sheet treatment of Private Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships are determined by an independent auditor following United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards issued by the Independent Accounting Standards Board.
	(b) Currently there are no international reporting standards on Private Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships.

Private Finance Initiative

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to make the private finance initiative process more accountable and transparent in terms of environmental sustainability.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) on 7 July 2004, Official Report, column 875W.
	In July 2002, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister together with DEFRA, OGC and DfT jointly issued a guidance, Green Public Private Partnerships, on how to include environmental considerations within PFI and PPP projects. This added to guidance on PFI projects issued by the Treasury and supports commitments to take forward best environmental practice and sustainable development within the public sector.
	Since the Green PPP guidance there have been further developments. The procurement section of the 'Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate' was published in October. This is the Government's main vehicle for systematically assessing, reporting and improving Government performance in managing its own land and buildings to improve sustainability. The procurement section includes targets mandating Government Departments to implement a sustainable procurement strategy, environmental clauses and an appropriate training programme.
	Furthermore, the Third Annual report 'Sustainable Development in Government (SDiG)' was published in November 2004. This contains data based on the financial year April 2003 to March 2004. DEFRA monitors Departments' performance against the framework targets in the annual SDiG reports.

Private Landlords

Susan Kramer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what legal requirements private landlords have to meet in relation to (a) electrical safety, (b) hygiene levels and (c) structural soundness of the property they are letting; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor and enforce these.

Yvette Cooper: In relation to the legislation for which this Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible, the Housing Act 1985 contains the housing fitness standard which determines whether a dwelling is reasonably suitable for occupation. Under these provisions, local authorities may require owners and landlords of housing accommodation to deal with defects relating to structural stability, serious disrepair (which may include dangerous electrical wiring), sanitation and hygiene. The fitness requirements are to be replaced by a new framework under Part 1 of the Housing Act 2004. The Housing Health and Safety Rating System will enable local authorities to assess whether any of 29 health and safety hazardsincluding those relating to poor sanitation or hygiene, structural collapse and electrical safetyare present in a dwelling, and to require landlords to take action to protect occupiers from such hazards.
	The 2004 Act will also enable local housing authorities to impose conditions on properties required to be licensed under the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) provisions in Part 2, or under the selective licensing provisions in Part 3. Such conditions must include requirements on the licence holder to keep electrical appliances provided by him in a safe condition and proper working order and to supply to the authority, on demand, a declaration of the safety of such appliances. A breach of a licence condition may result in the licence being revoked and/or a fine of up to 5,000.
	Part 1 of the 2004 Act also contains a general duty on local housing authorities to keep the housing conditions in their area under review with a view to identifying any action that they need to take in connection with housing conditions, licensing or renewal.
	The requirements of the Building Regulations 2000 and subsequent amendments may apply where a landlord plans to undertake building work as defined in the regulations. This includes work associated with electrical safety, hygiene and structural soundness. Should a building fall into such disrepair that it becomes dangerous, then the Building Act 1984 provides for the landlord to be required, under a court order obtained by the local authority, to remedy the hazard.

Railways (Fire Regulations)

John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the railway stations and premises which are covered by the Fire Precautions (Sub-Surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Railway stations and premises which are subject to the Fire Precautions (Sub-surface Railway Stations) Regulations 1989 are identified by the local fire and rescue authority, who enforce the regulations. Details of the names and locations of the individual premises concerned are not held centrally. [However, the statistics we collect show that in 200304the latest year for which figures are available168 such premises were known to fire and rescue authorities.]

Regeneration (Wolverhampton)

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Department on regeneration projects in (a) the City of Wolverhampton and (b) constituency of Wolverhampton South East since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Under the neighbourhood renewal fund, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has provided funding totalling 37.1 million between 200102 and 200708 to tackle disadvantage in deprived neighbourhoods in Wolverhampton.
	English Partnerships is the national regeneration agency sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. English Partnership's expenditure in Wolverhampton in recent years has been in connection with Priority Sites Ltd, EP's commercial development joint venture with the Royal Bank of Scotland. Priority Sites expenditure began in 2002 and currently stands at 591,000. Under the former PIP (property investment programme), 2.6 million was spent between 1997 and 2001. English Partnerships provided a further 991,000 to Advantage West Midlands for land reclamation programme projects between 1997 and 2000. This makes EP's total spend in the city of Wolverhampton between 1997 to 2005 4.2 million.
	A further 628,225 in grants has been provided to Wolverhampton from 2001 to date as part of the neighbourhood and street crime warden schemes, both funded by ODPM.
	In addition, the Government awarded 53.5 million to the Wolverhampton new deal for communities partnership in 2001 under Round 2 of the Government's new deal for communities programme. The Partnership is now in year five of the 10-year programme and to date has spent approximately 10.3 million of the approved grant.
	Wolverhampton has also benefited from Objective 2 European regional development funds and since 1997 over 27.2 million has been spent directly in the city of Wolverhampton area.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public funding each regional assembly has received in each year since their creation; and what the estimated levels for 200506 are.

Yvette Cooper: The total level of Government grant made to regional assemblies by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister since 2001 is tabled as follows.
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 North East 500,000 600,000 1,408,000 1,708,000 1,708,000 
			 North West 500,000 600,000 1,837,000 2,536,000 2,536,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 500,000 600,000 1,655,000 1,923,000 1,923,000 
			 West Midlands 500,000 600,000 1,671,000 2,071,000 2,071,000 
			 East Midlands 500,000 600,000 1,631,000 2,056,000 2,056,000 
			 East 500,000 600,000 1,874,000 2,112,000 2,112,000 
			 South East 500,000 600,000 2,186,000 3,280,000 3,280,000 
			 South West 500,000 600,000 1,613,000 2,101,000 2,101,000 
			 English Regions Network 1,000,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 
			 Total 5,000,000 5,000,000 14,075,000 17,987,000 17,987,000 
		
	
	The grant supports the assemblies in the performance of their designated functions to scrutinise the work of the regional development agencies; fulfil their regional planning responsibilities; and for the development of their strategic regional role.
	The increase in funding from 200304 was granted in recognition of the statutory responsibilities that were placed on them as regional planning bodies by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what powers the West Midlands Regional Assembly has to amend, delete or review (a) Green Belt designation, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty designation and (c) Site of Special Scientific Interest designation.

Yvette Cooper: In relation to Green Belt designation, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 27172W. The regional assemblies do not have powers to amend, delete or review Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Regional Assemblies

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the role of the West Midlands Regional Assembly is with regards to waste and incineration policy.

Yvette Cooper: As the regional planning body, the West Midlands Regional Assembly is responsible for keeping its regional spatial strategy (RSS) under review and preparing revisions. The RSS should include a concise strategy for waste management in line with national policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 10 Planning for Sustainable Waste Management and be capable of being carried forward into local development documents prepared by waste planning authorities. The strategy for waste management should comprise a distribution of waste tonnage requiring management, a pattern of waste management facilities of national, regional or sub-regional significance, and supporting policies.

Regional Planning and Housing Boards

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to complete the merger of Regional Planning and Housing Boards; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government are committed to merging the functions of Regional Planning Bodies and Regional Housing Boards. Details of how this will be achieved, including timing will be announced in due course.

Residential Sprinklers

Michael Clapham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of recommendations arising from the survey into low-cost residential sprinklers; and over what timescale he expects to implement the recommendations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: ODPM has commissioned a research project into the potential for lower cost sprinkler systems suitable for domestic premises. The final results and recommendations from this work are not yet available, but early indications are that such a system is a practical possibility. ODPM expect to receive a final report from the contractors later this month. Assuming that the final report is positive, we would hope to take forward the debate on the development and application of such systems in managing risk, both within the fire and rescue service-community, the wider fire industry and other interested parties. Plans for this wider debate will be finalised in the coming months and we will aim to ensure that all stakeholders have the opportunity to join the debate.

Section 106 Planning Agreements

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information he has received on the operation of section 106 planning agreements in London in respect of local authorities receiving payments in lieu of housing developments; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information on individual section 106 agreements is held by local planning authorities and not collated centrally.
	The research report The Value for Money of Delivering Affordable Housing through Section 106 published on 18 July (available on the ODPM websiteat: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_ planning/documents/page/odpm_plan_039124.hcsp) shows that in 200203 just over 11 million was received by local planning authorities in London in commuted sums to provide affordable housing off-site, in lieu of on-site provision.

Sickness Absence

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many working days were lost due to sickness absence in his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. The number of days lost due to sickness are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent of which (for calendar year 2003) was announced by ministerial statement on 1 November and copies placed in the Libraries of the House. Reports for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 are also available in the Library of the House and on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_of_the_ civil_service/conditions_of_service/occupational_health/publications/index.asp
	The Office of The Deputy Prime Minister is committed to managing sickness absence effectively and is putting in place the recommendations of the recently published report Managing Sickness Absence in the Public Sector.

Social Housing

Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is Government policy to reduce the number of registered social landlords with fewer than 1,000 units in management.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not have a policy to reduce the number of registered social landlords with fewer than 1,000 units in management.

Social Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many dwellings have been built (a) by local authorities, (b) by housing associations and (c) in total in each year since 1990, broken down by number of bedrooms.

Yvette Cooper: Housing statistics table no. 204 published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's internet site shows the number of dwellings built in England by tenure for each year since 199091. Table251 shows the percentages of dwellings built with different numbers of bedrooms.
	The respective ODPM internet addresses for these tables are:
	http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_604034.xls
	[HousingHousing StatisticsLive TablesHousebuildingTable 204]
	http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_604058.xls
	[HousingHousing StatisticsLive TablesHousebuildingTable 251]

Social Housing

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been allocated to improving heating and insulation standards in social housing in each year since 2000, broken down by expenditure incurred by (a) local authorities and (b) registered social landlords; and what these figures are as a percentage of all social landlord expenditure on remedial work to the housing stock.

Yvette Cooper: Data are only available for local authorities set out in the following table. The figures show what local authorities have spent/plan to spend on improving heating and insulation.
	Over the period shown in the table, this represents 16 per cent. of all expenditure on remedial works.
	
		000
		
			  Financial year Total LA expenditure on central heating and insulation 
		
		
			 19992000 246,725 
			 200001 283,033 
			 200102 318,559 
			 200203 333,034 
			 200304 385,548 
			 200405 405,352

Social Housing

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authority homes were under tenant management in (a) England and (b) Greater London in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The number of local authority homes under tenant management since 1997 is as follows:
	
		
			  In England and Wales In Greater London 
		
		
			 1997 50,148 30,321 
			 1998 53,969 32,546 
			 1999 54,806 33,080 
			 2000 56,228 34,502 
			 2001 57,629 35,296 
			 2002 58,152 35,819 
			 2003 60,253 35,819 
			 2004 62,029 36,745 
			 2005 62,029 36,745 
		
	
	These homes are managed by around 250 tenant management organisations (TMO). Research has shown that in most cases TMOs are performing better than their landlord host local authorities and a majority are engaged in community development activities that contribute to the strengthening of their communities and social networks. They are a good example of community empowerment and we want to continue to promote and encourage the development of the TMO sector.
	There are no local authority homes under tenant management in Wales.

South London Family Housing Association

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking in response to the Audit Commission's recent inspection report on the South London Family Housing Association; and in what circumstances funding for the Association may be suspended.

Yvette Cooper: Following the publication of the Audit Commission's report the Housing Corporation, as statutory regulator for registered social landlords (RSLs), has placed both South London Family Housing Association Limited (SLFHA Ltd.) and its parent association, Horizon Housing Group, into supervision. The supervision process ensures that both SLFHA Ltd. and Horizon Housing Group produce and implement action plans to address the weaknesses evidenced by the inspection report findings. The RSLs will remain in supervision until the Corporation is satisfied that all issues have been addressed.
	RSLs that are placed under supervision are considered on a case by case basis. If the Housing Corporation was of the view that an RSL in supervision was in such a financial position that public funds would appear to be at risk, no further funding at all would be provided to the RSL until the issues in question were resolved.
	In the case of SLFHA Ltd. and Horizon, where the Corporation had confirmed, prior to the imposition of supervision status, that grant would be provided for specific schemes, that grant will still be made. Development schemes for which grant had been allocated to the Horizon Group but where formal confirmation had not been made prior to the imposition of supervision status are in the process of being re-allocated to another RSL. Neither Horizon Housing Group or SLFHA Ltd. will be permitted to bid for any grant funding or take further properties into ownership or management, while they remain in supervision.

Standards Board

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of Standards Board investigations in each London borough was in each year since 1999.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board was established in March 2001.
	The Standards Board does not record information in the format requested. It estimates that the current average cost of an investigation into allegations of a breach of the code of conduct is around 5,000 per case.

Standards Board

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases were reported to the Standards Board for England in each year since 1999 by each London borough.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board does not record information in the format requested.
	Information on the number of complaints received about councillors in London boroughs is shown in the table. The information dates from 200102 as the Standards Board was established in March 2001.
	
		Complaints received against councillors in London boroughs (by financial year)
		
			  200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 0 0 3 2 
			 Barnet 0 5 5 3 4 
			 Bexley 0 0 9 35 0 
			 Brent 0 4 22 5 2 
			 Bromley 0 1 6 5 0 
			 Camden 0 3 5 11 9 
			 Corporation of London 0 4 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 0 1 1 3 2 
			 Ealing 0 2 3 9 1 
			 Enfield 0 1 3 3 61 
			 Greenwich 0 0 1 33 1 
			 Hackney 0 2 1 3 2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1 1 5 2 0 
			 Haringey 0 3 5 5 0 
			 Harrow 0 2 2 5 6 
			 Havering 0 2 8 7 2 
			 Hillingdon 0 0 9 3 0 
			 Hounslow 0 1 2 6 10 
			 Islington 0 6 8 16 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0 0 0 2 0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0 1 8 2 0 
			 Lambeth 0 6 3 4 1 
			 Lewisham 0 1 2 2 0 
			 Merton 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Newham 0 0 2 4 0 
			 Redbridge 0 0 3 7 8 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 1 4 8 0 
			 Southwark 0 8 5 5 0 
			 Sutton 0 3 6 2 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 0 1 5 7 5 
			 Waltham Forest 0 2 0 1 25 
			 Wandsworth 0 0 3 3 1 
			 Westminster City Council 0 0 2 1 1

Supermarkets (Planning)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department will take to ensure that the forthcoming guidance notes accompanying PPS6 will ensure competition and choice for consumers in the supermarket sector.

Yvette Cooper: The ODPM, in consultation with stakeholders, is preparing practice guidance on assessing need and impact for retail and leisure development, and other main town centre uses, as foreshadowed in Planning Policy Statement PPS6: Planning for Town Centres.
	This guidance will reflect the Government's objectives, set out in PPS6, which include: enhancing consumer choice by making provision for a range of shopping, leisure and local services, which allow genuine choice to meet the needs of the entire community; and supporting efficient, competitive and innovative retail, leisure, tourism and other sectors, with improving productivity.

Supporting People Programme

Charles Walker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the payments made to Hertfordshire from the Supporting People programme in each financial year since 1997; what payments he expects will be made in (a) 200506, (b) 200607 and (c) 200708; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Supporting People programme was launched in April 2003, in the two years preceding this date Hertfordshire received Supporting People Administration Grant as a contribution towards the costs of implementing the programme. Since 2003 Hertfordshire has been allocated both Support People Administration Grant and Supporting People Programme grant. No decision has been taken regarding individual grant allocations in either 200607 or 200708 although the Government have committed that no authority will receive a cash increase greater than 10 per cent. or reduction greater than 5 per cent. in either of these years. Supporting People payments made to Hertfordshire are listed as follows:
	
		
			  Total (000) 
		
		
			 200102 287 
			 200203 592 
			 200304 23,023 
			 200405 23,402 
			 200506 22,057

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the annual spending by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies on (i) electricity use and (ii) water and sewerage services has been in each year since 200203.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The costs of electricity and water and sewerage services for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and its Agencies since 200203 are as follows:
	
		
		
			  (a) Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (excluding Government Offices)(b) Agencies 
		
		
			 Electricity 200203 369,009 562,590 
			 Electricity 200304 450,239 782,454 
			 Electricity 200405 526,517 715,145 
			 Water and sewerage 200203 (128)28,589 106,883 
			 Water and sewerage 200304 (128)32,034 120,758 
			 Water and sewerage 200405 (128)18,485 98,338 
		
	
	(128)Not including Hempstead House, where cost is included within the service charge.
	The figures for 200405 have yet to be independently verified by DEFRA and therefore should be considered as provisional.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what change there has been in road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions from his Departmentagainst a baseline year of (a) 200304 and (b) 200405;
	(2)  what reduction there has been in road transportvehicle carbon dioxide emissions from his Department against a baseline year of (a) 200304 and (b) 200405.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not available. CO 2 emissions cannot presently be calculated, as much of the mileage is by hire and private car and existing travel claim systems do not record the size of the vehicle engine.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently assessing methods and systems to record the required information in order to meet our framework for sustainable development targetBl: To reduce road transport vehicle carbon dioxide emissions by at least 10 percent., to be achieved through any combination of:
	(a) reducing total business vehicle mileage;
	(b) improving the average fuel efficiency of vehicles;
	(c) reducing total fuel consumed.
	This answer does not include data from Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what has been identified as the most significant sustainable development impact in relation to operation of the estate of his Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A recent assessment of Sustainable Development impacts within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, carried out as part of ISO 14001:2004 accreditation, identified procurement as the most significant sustainable development impact.
	Officials are currently working on delivering the required Sustainable Procurement Strategy as detailed in Target Fl of the Framework for Sustainable Development of the Government Estate. Standard clauses have been added to our contracts to ensure responsible supply chain management, reducing the ecological impact of any purchases made.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what steps he is taking to assist the delivery of sustainable development within Government;
	(2)  what progress has been made on his Department's Sustainable Development Strategy;
	(3)  what steps have been taken by his Department to review its arrangements for public reporting of its sustainable development impacts.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister played a full part in preparing the UK Sustainable Development Strategy Securing the Future, which was launched in March 2005. We will be producing a Sustainable Development Action Plan in December 2005, which will set out the steps we are taking to contribute to the delivery of the strategy, including arrangements for monitoring progress.
	The Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate is the Government's main vehicle for systematically assessing, reporting and improving Government performance in managing its own land and buildings sustainably. The ODPM will be publishing its first Sustainable Operations Report covering its work and results on delivering the targets contained within the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate before the end of the year. This will also build on the data reported annually in the Sustainable Development in Government Report.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made (a) of the environment impact and (b) against sustainable development criteria of the bids made for contracts awarded by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister places high priority on sustainable development and environmental impact in its procurement process and in this respect environmental and sustainability issues are considered when awarding contracts where they are considered relevant to the contract and where they have been included in the contract specification.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of electricity used by buildings in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies came from renewable sources for each year since 200304.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Since 200304 the total proportion of renewable electricity used by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in its buildings in the (a) the Office and (b) its agencies each year is as follows:
	
		Percentage
		
			  (a) Office(129) (b) Agencies 
		
		
			 200304 98 29 
			 200405(130) 98 46 
		
	
	(129)Not including Government Offices.
	(130)The figures for 200405 have yet to undergo independent verification and so must be regarded as provisional.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what reduction there has been in water consumption by his Department between 2002 and 31 March 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The reduction in water consumption within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's estate between 2002 to 31 March 2005 is as follows:
	
		Sustainable developmentreduction in water consumption
		
			  Consumption (m(133)) Reduction (m(133)) Percentage reduction (year on year) 
		
		
			 200203 161,096.   
			 200304 141,532 19,564 12.14 
			 200405 132,787 8,745 6.18 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures do not include water used for training purposes at the Fire Service College.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.
	These reductions are assisting ODPM in achieving the Sustainable Development in Government water target (C2) of 7.7m 3 /person/annum.

Sustainable Development

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister atwhich non-office sites on his Department's estates he has identified opportunities for significant water savings.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has previously identified the following non-office sites as being likely to provide opportunities for significant water savings:
	The Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire.
	The Queen Elizabeth the Second Conference Centre, London.
	Since 200203 the Fire Service college's non-training water usage has reduced by 29 per cent. Water usage in the QEII Conference Centre has reduced by 4 per cent. in the same period, which is a significant reduction on a year ago when it had increased by 13 per cent. The water consumption in both establishments has decreased despite the increased business use of the establishments.
	Initiatives are planed to further reduce consumption although savings are unlikely to be as significant as those achieved to date.
	Since November 2002, DEFRA has monitored Departments' performance against the framework targets in the annual 'Sustainable Development in Government' reports (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/reports/index.htm).

Tees Valley Coastal Arc

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what kinds of development the designation of Redcar as part of the Tees Valley Coastal Arc is intended to (a) encourage and (b) discourage.

Yvette Cooper: The Government welcomes the leadership that the Tees Valley Partnership have shown in setting out an ambitious investment programme, including areas in my hon. Friend's constituency through the Coastal Arc proposals. The Government, and the Regional Development Agency ONE North East, will be studying these proposals carefully, with a view to supporting priority projects that deliver sustainable economic development.

Telecommunications Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Government expects to publish its review of planning regulations for mobile phone masts.

Yvette Cooper: We are currently commissioning research on the future of telecommunications masts.
	We also commissioned a review of the code of best practice on mobile phone network development which will be published shortly. As part of the GPDO review we have also been looking at permitted development rights for mobile phone masts.

Telecommunications Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations the Government have received from companies holding 3G telecommunications licences relating to planning regulations for mobile phone masts.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister receives many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry. The information about such representations is not readily available in the breakdown requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Telephone Inquiries

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what facilities his Department has to deal with telephone inquiries in (a) Welsh, (b) Scots Gaelic and (c) Irish Gaelic.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no formal requirement for its switchboard staff to be able to converse with callers in any language other than English. However, Welsh is spoken, amongst other languages, by a member of the switchboard team. This is in line with the ODPM Welsh language scheme. There is no provision for Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic currently amongst switchboard staff.
	The ODPM has a contract in place for interpretation and translation services and should the need arise regularly this contract could be used to provide support to particular ODPM staff in their handling of calls, or the requirement could be added to the contract for switchboard services.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will ensure that notice is given to the hon. Member for Thurrock of the day that the Order making the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation the local planning authority for strategic development is to be laid before Parliament should this occur during the summer adjournment.

Yvette Cooper: I wrote to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock on 21 September to inform him that we have laid in the House an Order making the Thurrock Development Corporation the local planning authority for applications relevant to its purpose from 12 October 2005.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005 to questions 12498501 and 12507, what office space area has been sought to accommodate the Thurrock Development Corporation Offices; if he will list vacant offices that were investigated as possible accommodation prior to the selection of Gateway House, Purfleet; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Corporation has leased 9,745 sq ft (gross) floor space at Gateway House, Purfleet, Essex.
	The Corporation appointed professional consultants to undertake an extensive property search of the Thurrock area in order to identify and secure suitable office accommodation. They undertook a comprehensive value for money business appraisal as part of the process, prior to Gateway House being signed-off by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005 to questions 12498, 12499, 12500, 12501 and 12507, where the strategic plans referred to in the reply are available for inspection; when they were made available; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Corporation is currently in the process of finalising their Regeneration Framework for Thurrock. As part of the Framework's preparation they, together with their consultants EDAW, held two major stakeholder events in October and November 2004. In addition to these events, they have spent considerable time discussing options/regeneration themes with key partners.
	The Spatial Plan for Thurrock is currently in the making. This will involve extensive consultation (and a rigorous Strategic Environmental Assessment) the timetable for which is currently being prepared.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005 to questions 12498501 and 12507, on what date the interviewing and selection procedure for the appointment of the Corporation's chief executive was completed; on what date the offer of appointment was made to the chief executive; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Short list interviews for the selection of the chief executive took place on Wednesday 4 August 2004. Niall Lindsay's appointment was approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 31 August 2004, formal offer of appointment was despatched on 23 September 2004. He took up his post on 18 October 2004.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005 to questions 12498501 and 12507, which (a) local and (b) regional partners have been involved in the preparation of a broad programme of capital interventions; what is meant by this term; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: This term is used to describe the corporation's evolving capital programme for 200506. Projects under development relate to the corporation's strategic aims and objectives and the themes identified within the regeneration framework. In future years, projects will also link to the corporation's spatial plan and area master plans.
	200506 projects are being developed in partnership with Thurrock borough council, Thurrock primary care trust, local community and voluntary groups and the East of England development agency.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 July 2005 to questions 12498501 and 12507, when he expects the Corporation's second capital project to be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The timing of future investment in projects is dependent upon the successful value for money evaluation and appraisal of projects as these come forward.

Timber

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department's procurement policy includes timber used on and in the construction of departmental building projects; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Contracts where the use of timber and timber based products is anticipated, contain clauses that require the supplier to actively seek legally sourced and sustainable timber and to supply physical evidence that supports this. Furthermore the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently has the use of framework contracts for the purchase of furniture, which are subject to supply chain audits by officials.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is presently co-operating with the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs and other Government Departments in the creation of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET), and has agreed to provide funding to support the initiative.

Timber

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the refurbishment projects in his Department that (a) are in progress and (b) will start in the next six months; what action is being taken to ensure that timber for these projects is procured from legal and sustainable sources; and whether guidance will be issued to contractors on each of these projects to ensure that the timber used on site during refurbishment also comes from legal and sustainable sources.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister presently has the following refurbishment projects:
	
		
			  Project 
		
		
			 (a) In progress  
			 (i) In the office Eland House, Londonspace planning/reorganisation project on the fifth, eighth and ninth floors. 
			  Allington Towers, Londonspace planning and DDA works 
			  Burlington House, LondonExternal repairs to a Grade 2* listed building 
			  London HQ buildingsDisability access works 
			  London HQ buildingsReplacement of fire alarm systems 
			 (ii) In each agency of the office QEII Conference Centre, LondonReplacement of air handling units 
			   
			 (b) Will start in the next six months  
			 (i) In the office Eland House, Londonspace planning/reorganisation project, (subject to funding) 
			 (ii) In each agency of the office None 
		
	
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has defined refurbishment projects to be upgrading and efficiency projects exceeding 100,000.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies are committed to the Government Policy on the purchase of Legal and Sustainable forested wood and this is fully supported in our Greening Operations Policy Statement.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has reviewed its procurement terms and conditions in line with recent guidance concerning environmental and sustainability issues and is providing awareness and training for staff. Contracts where the use of timber and timber based products is anticipated, contain clauses that require the supplier to actively seek legally sourced and sustainable timber and to supply physical evidence that supports this.
	Procurement of timber and timber based products has been included within the certificated and independently audited ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has developed to manage our response to the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Timber

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to fund the maintenance of the Central Point of Expertise on Timber.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer by my hon. Friend the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment on 10 October 2005 (15728).

Video Conferencing

David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) his Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number of such units.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has 14 video conferencing units installed with at least one in each of the 11 buildings occupied by its staff. One of these units is managed by another Government Department;
	(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agencies have four video conferencing units installed, with units in each of its three occupancies. One of these units is managed by another Government Department;
	100 per cent. of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's occupancies have access to video conferencing facilities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies regularly review the requirement for video conferencing equipment, with each proposal being considered on a value for money basis. There are presently no plans to increase the number of units further.
	This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Chess

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on official recognition of chess as a sport.

Richard Caborn: Chess is not currently recognised as a sport. The unanimous support of all four national Sports Councils and UK Sport is required in order for a sport or its governing body to receive official recognition.
	The criteria that the Sports Councils use to decide whether an activity should be recognised as a sport are derived from their Royal Charters, and ultimately from the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937. Legal advice has stated that chess does not fall within the meaning of the word sport for the purposes of the Royal Charter, or the meaning of physical training and recreation in the Act. Recognition of chess would therefore require amendments to the Act.
	Sport is now a devolved matter, so a change in the current position would require the unanimous support of both the Devolved Administrations (DAs) and the Sports Councils, before any progress could be made. It would be necessary to put a case to the DAs and the Sports Councils for legislative change that would include chess, and if necessary other mind games, within the criteria for recognition as a sport. The case put forward must be able to convince them that chess provides the same benefits to the public, such as improved health and fitness, as recognised sports, in order to merit equal status and the financial support that comes with it.

Commemorations

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list anniversaries for which her Department has begun planning commemorations for (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible on behalf of the Cabinet for the arrangements for the annual Remembrance day ceremony at the Cenotaph. As, Minister for Culture Iam working with Paul Goggins, Minister for Race Equality in the Home Office, to explore the most appropriate role for the Government in the bicentenary celebrations to mark the abolition of slave trade in 2007.

Consultation Papers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the consultation papers her Department has published since 1997.

David Lammy: At the 26 July 2005 my Department has published the following consultations, full copies of which can be found on our website:
	www.culture.gov.uk
	
		
			  Title 
		
		
			 2005 Revisions to Principles of Selection for Listing Buildings: Planning Policy Guidance Note 15 Consultation Paper 
			  A Giving Culture: Getting the Best out of the Relationship Between the Voluntary and Community Sector and DCMS 
			  Understanding the Future: Museums and the 21st Century 
			  Review of the BBC's Royal Charter, 'A Strong BBC, Independent of Government' 2004 
			   
			 2004 Consultation on Repeal of Section 5 of the Public Statues (Metropolis) Act 1854 
			  Public Library Service Standard Consultation 
			  Marine Historic Environment Consultation Paper 
			  Ecclesiastical Exemption Consultation Paper 
			  Consultation for the Independent Review of the BBC's Digital TV and Radio Services 
			  S4C Independent Review/Adolgiad S4C 
			  Draft Community Radio Order 
			  National Lottery Licensing 
			  Choosing Health? Choosing Activity 
			  Consultation on the Scope and Implementation of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in Relation to Sports Coaches 
			  Establishing the Legal Deposit Advisory Panel 
			  Fee Levels to be Established by Regulation Under the Licensing Act 2003 
			  UNESCO Consultation on the Draft Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions 
			  Consultation on Draft Regulations and Order to be Made under the Licensing Act 2003 
			  The Protection of Minor and Human Dignity in the Media, and Rights of Reply 
			  European Commission's Proposal for the Future Culture Programme 200713 
			  Care of Historic Human Remains Consultation 
			  Party Political Broadcasting Consultation Paper 
			  Regional Devolution Consultation Paper 
			  New EU Media Programme 200713 Consultation 
			  Culture at the Heart of Regeneration 
			  Government Action PlanCommon Commencement Date Consultation 
			 2003 Review of the BBC's Royal Charter 
			  Draft Gambling Bill Consultation 
			  Carriage of BBC Digital Channels on NTL'S Analogue Network 
			  Historic Environment Records: Benchmarks for Good Practice 
			  Consultation for the Independent Review of BBC Online 
			  Ships for the NationConsultation on Government Policy for the Preservation of Historic Ships 
			  Protecting Our Historic Environment: Making the System Work Better 
			  Museum of LondonRegulatory Reform Order Consultation Paper 
			  Tourism Statistics Review 
			  Export Controls on Objects of Cultural InterestConsultation on a Draft Order to be Made under the Export Control Act 2002 
			  National Lottery Decisions Document 
			   
			 2002 People and Places: Social Inclusion Policy for the Built and Historic Environment 
			  Consultation on Children's Play Review 
			  Proposed Review of Some of the UK Export Licensing Categories 
			  Review of Lottery Funding 
			  Review of Lottery Licensing and Regulation 
			  Consultation on BBC Application for Digital Curriculum Service) 
			  Changes to Licensing Hours During all Future New Year's EvesAmending the Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing 
			  Consultation Paper on Prize Competitions 
			   
			 2001 English Heritage Quinquennial Review: Stage 
			  Review of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester 
			  Review of the National Maritime Museum 
			  Review of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art 
			  Review of the Public Lending Right 
			  Consultation on Media Ownership Rules 
			  Responses to the Government Consultation on BBC New Digital Services Proposals 
			  Working Group on Human RemainsSubmissions Invitation 
			  Review of the Museum of London, Geffrey Museum and Horniman Museum 
			  Review of the National Museum of Science and Industry 
			  BBC Application to Launch BBC3 
			  Gaming Machines: Methods of Payment 
			  Consultation on Licensing Hours for New Year's Eve 2001 and during Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee in June 2002 
			  Review of the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery 2000 
			   
			 2000 Quinquennial Review of the Historical Manuscripts Commission: Stage One 
			  Promoting Social Inclusion Through Archives 
			  A Consultation Paper on the Proposed Abolition of the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Licensing of Racecourse Betting and Pool Betting on Horseracing 
			  New Opportunities from the Lottery Consultation Paper (in two parts) 
			  British Library Review: Prior Options Report 
			  Comprehensive and EfficientStandards for Modern Public Libraries 
			  Government Response to All Our Futures: Creativity, Culture and Education 1999 
			   
			 1999 Libraries and the RegionalA Discussion Paper 
			  Consultation Paper on Changes to the Public Lending Right Scheme 
			  Implementing the Television Without Frontiers Directive: Consultation Paper 
			  Regulating Communications: The Way Ahead Results of the Consultation on the Convergence Green Paper 
			  Consultation Paper on Proposed Structure of Regional Cultural Consortia 
			  Guidance for Local Authorities on Local Cultural Strategies: Consultation Draft 
			   
			 1998 Consultation on Possible Relaxation to Statutory Restrictions on Participation in Bodies Corporate in Possession of Licence to Provide Local Radio Multiplex Services 
			  Consultation on Proposed Revision to the Statutory Digital Terrestrial Programme Service Points System 
			  Consultation about a Sports Ground Safety Authority to Succeed the Football Licensing Authority 
			  UNESCO: World Heritage SitesA Consultation Paper on a New United Kingdom Tentative List of Future Nominations 
			  The Comprehensive Spending Review: A New Approach to Investment in Culture 
			  Tourism: Towards SustainabilityA Consultation Paper on Sustainable Tourism in the UK 
			  Television: The Digital FutureA Consultation Document 
			   
			 1997 Access to Museums and Galleries: Consultation Paper on Draft Code of Practice 
			  Artsmark: A Consultation Paper 
			  Legal Deposit of Publications: A Consultation Paper 
			  The People's Lottery

Contractors

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list contractors based in other EU member states that are providing services to her Department.

David Lammy: DCMS has only one contractor from other EU member states currently providing services and that is our IT service providerAtos Origina French company.

Creative Partnerships

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on Creative Partnerships in each year since their creation.

David Lammy: The table shows Government spending on Creative Partnerships in each year since 200102.
	
		 million
		
			  Spending 
		
		
			 200102 0.24 
			 200203 5.8 
			 200304 23.7 
			 200405 27.8

Creative Partnerships

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the beneficiaries of the Creative Partnership programme, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

David Lammy: To date (26 July 2005), the Creative Partnerships programme has provided over 318,000 opportunities for children and young people to engage in sustained work with artists and other creative professionals. I am arranging for a list of schools that have directly benefited from the programme, broken down by parliamentary constituency to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Cultural Connections Website

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what the purpose is of the Cultural Connections website; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Cultural Connections website is a domain within the Improvement and Development Agency's Knowledge website. It is a resource providing good practice information for local government in relation to cultural and leisure services (for policy and decision makers as well as practitioners). It provides a focus for debate about performance and improvement.

Cultural Connections Website

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people work on the Cultural Connections website.

David Lammy: The Cultural Connections website is managed within DCMS, using 20 per cent. of one member of staff and 5 per cent. of another member of staff at 26 July 2005. The technical maintenance of the site is carried out by the Improvement  Development Agency at a cost of 5,000 per annum.

Cultural Connections Website

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport how many hits the Cultural Connections website has had in each month since its creation.

David Lammy: The Cultural Connections website has had the following hits each month since it was created in October 2004:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2004  
			 October 1,684 
			 November 1,397 
			 December 208 
			   
			 2005  
			 January (131)n/a 
			 February 906 
			 March 662 
			 April 704 
			 May 826 
			 June 731 
		
	
	(131)All figures provided by Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA); they are unable to supply a figure for January due to a change in their statistical platform.
	The Cultural Connections website is currently being restructured, and will be relaunched in September 2005.

Cultural Connections Website

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Cultural Connections website has cost in each month since its creation.

David Lammy: The Cultural Connections website is a domain on the Improvement and Development Agency's Knowledge website. The domain was built at a cost of 10,000 in 2004 and has a maintenance cost of 417 per month (5,000 per annum).

Culture Online

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on Culture Online in each year since its creation.

David Lammy: The following table shows annual departmental expenditure on Culture Online.
	
		
		
			 Financial year Amount 
		
		
			 200001 640,382.21 
			 200102 1,019,236.22 
			 200203 265,379.95 
			 200304 1,439,034.38 
			 200405 3,900,152.73 
			 200506 spend to date 1,876,137.29 
		
	
	Culture Online (COL) is an innovative initiative to increase access to, and participation in, arts and culture. It brings together cultural organisations with cutting-edge technical providers to create projects that delight adults and children of all ages and backgrounds. Eighteen projects have been commissioned so far. As the programme has developed, COL has attracted an increasing amount of public recognition, awards and nominations. The projects have won three BAFTA Interactives, one Webby, three Newspaper Society awards and an Association of Online Publishers award; two projects have been nominated for British Interactive Media Association awards. COL was also cited as a best practice case study in the NAO's Managing Risks to Improve Public Services report, published last year.

Digital Television

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many households do not have access to digital television in (a) the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds, (b) Suffolk, (c) Norfolk, (d) Essex and (e) Cambridgeshire;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to widen access to Freeview in (a) Suffolk and (b) the constituency of Bury St. Edmunds.

James Purnell: Digital Switchover will enable coverage of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) to reach the same level as that of the current analogue signals.
	The vast majority of households in the areas mentioned above can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite, digital terrestrial and cable.
	Specifically, all of the main transmitters serving East Anglia: Tacolneston (Norwich), Sudbury, and Sandy Heath (Bedford), broadcast the full range of DTTand hence Freeviewservices. However, there are some restrictions due to spectrum overcrowding and proximity to the continent.

Digital Television

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the schedule is for the switchover to digital transmission in each region.

James Purnell: The position as of 26 July, is set out in the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the House, on 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 112113WS.

Digital Television

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of households that will not be able to receive a digital television signal after the analogue switchoff, broken down by parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Digital terrestrial coverage at switchover will match existing analogue coveragearound 98.5 per cent. of households.
	While the vast majority of households not currently covered by analogue services can already receive digital television via satellite, cable or DSL, there are still a few areas in which reception is very poor. Therefore, we are considering with Ofcom how to extend further the reach of digital television.

Digital Television

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that provision is made to help blind and partially-sighted people during digital switchover with (a) installation and aerial adjustments, (b) financing of accessible set-up boxes and (c) free telephone advice on the options they have, including advice on the availability of audio description; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: As stated in our Manifesto, we are committed to achieving digital switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high-quality, free-to-view and subscription digital TV. The Government will confirm the region-by-region timetable once it is clear that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected. We recognise that there will be some people who need assistance to understand, install and use digital television equipment.
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said in her Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2005, she expects to make a further announcement this autumn, and will report further progress to the House as appropriate.

Digital Television

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will announce the regional targets for digital terrestrial television coverage.

James Purnell: The figures for predicted coverage for digital terrestrial television (DTT), at digital switchover, were set out by Ofcom in their announcement made on 1 June. We expect detailed coverage information to be made available once the timetable for switchover has been confirmed.

Digital Television

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provisions have been made for households in Bedfordshire that will be unable to receive a digital signal by 2008; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The vast majority of households in Bedfordshire can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite, digital terrestrial and cable.
	The Secretary of State confirmed the regional timetable in her statement of 15 September 2005. Digital switchover will take place in Bedfordshire in 2011; it will enable coverage of digital terrestrial television to reach the same level as that of the current analogue signals.

Dollis Hill House

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) public and (b) Lottery funds have been made available for the restoration of Dollis Hill House; what assessment she has made of the historical and cultural significance of the building; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: In March 2004, English Heritage offered a grant of 11,750 towards the cost of a feasibility study and conservation report on Dollis Hill House, but to date (25 August) no Lottery funds have been made available for its restoration. An assessment of the house was made by English Heritage, and it was awarded a Grade II listing on 23 January 1974 mainly on historic grounds.

Film Funding

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list films which have been made with public funding assistance since 1997.

James Purnell: My Department has contacted a number of organisations that have provided public funding assistance for film since 1997 to request the information required, and I will arrange for the complete list to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses in due course.

Freedom of Information Act

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests have been answered by the Department; and in how many cases (a) information was wholly exempted, (b) information was partly exempted and (c) the requests were answered in full.

Richard Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs on 12 September 2005, Official Report, column 2248W.

London Olympic Games

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implications of the events of 7 July for London's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2012; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The security plans for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are based on well established security procedures and protocols for policing major events in the UK. We will of course keep these plans under close review in the lead up to 2012 based on the latest security assessments and advice from the security services and the Metropolitan police.

London Olympic Games

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the effects on costs of security for the 2012 Olympics of the events in London on 7 July; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The total planned security budget for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is 213 million. This budget is based on well established security procedures and protocols for policing major events in the UK. We will keep these plans under close review in the lead up to 2012.

London Olympic Games

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what security is planned for the 2012 London Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The security plans for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are based on well established security procedures and protocols for major events in the UK.
	The Organising Committee for the Games will have its own Security Directorate, responsible for overseeing an integrated, approach to safety and security. This Security Directorate will be monitored and overseen by the Olympic Security Committee, chaired by the Home Secretary with key members from the security services (including the Commissioner of the MPS).
	We will keep our security plans under close review in the lead up to 2012 based on the latest assessments and advice from the security services and Metropolitan police.

London Olympic Games

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received regarding the opportunities for Bedfordshire to play a role in the 2012 London Olympic games; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Bedfordshire is part of the East of England Working Group for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Councillor Lynne Faulkner represents Bedfordshire on that regional working group supporting the wider work the 2012 Nations and Regions Group are undertaking to ensure the whole country is involved in, and benefits from, the games in 2012.

London Olympic Games

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are planned to provide benefits from the 2012 Olympics for (a) hoteliers, (b) businesses and (c) residents of areas outside East London, with particular reference to Hemel Hempstead constituency.

Richard Caborn: We expect there to be significant social, sporting and economic benefits for the whole of the UK as a result of the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012. There will be billions of pounds worth of contracts on offer to UK companies, and the games provides a unique opportunity to showcase the best of UK business on a global stage. The London games will also result in increased numbers of visitors to the UK in 2012 and offers the opportunity to further raise the profile of the UK as a tourist destination with resulting benefits for the UK hotel trade.

London Olympic Games

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contingency plans her Department has for overspend on the Olympic games.

Tessa Jowell: London's bid underwent rigorous assessment by the International Olympic Committee, Treasury and the Office of Government Commerce. The Government remain committed to ensuring the 2012 games are delivered on time and on budget.
	In the unlikely event of an overspend occurring in staging the Olympic and Paralympics games the responsibility will be discharged through an appropriate sharing arrangement to be agreed between Government, the Mayor of London and the National Lottery. The details of the funding arrangements are set out in Command Paper CM5867 laid before the House in June 2003.

Management Consultants

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on management consultants in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The cost to the Department of using management consultants in each year since 1997 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial Year  
		
		
			 199798 113,527.53 
			 199899 27,289.12 
			 19992000 71,106.30 
			 200001 100,089.26 
			 200102 90,407.30 
			 200203 107,299.50 
			 200304 10,170.94 
			 200405 21,067.25 
			 200506 (Spend to date at 22 July 2005) 4,500.00 
		
	
	The Department uses management consultants for a wide variety of tasks, in particular where specialist skills and expertise is required to contribute to policy making and improving the Department's effectiveness. Contracts are awarded in open competition according to EU procurement Regulations, based on best value for money.

Museum Funding

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which museums receive public funding, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

David Lammy: I fund the following museums and galleries:
	
		
			 Museum Parliamentary Constituency 
		
		
			 British Museum Holborn and St. Pancras 
			 Design Museum North Southwark and Bermondsey 
			 Geffrye Museum Hackney South and Shoreditch 
			 Horniman Museum Lewisham West 
			   
			 Imperial War Museum (IWM), branches:  
			 Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms Cities of London and Westminster 
			 HMS Belfast North Southwark and Bermondsey 
			 IWMDuxford Cambridgeshire South 
			 Lambeth Road, London Southwark North and Bermondsey 
			 Imperial War Museum North Stretford and Urmston 
			   
			 Museum of London, branches:  
			 Museum of London Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Museum in Docklands Poplar and Canning Town 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester Manchester Central 
			 National Coal Mining Museum in England Wakefield 
			 National Football Museum Preston 
			 National Gallery Cities of London and Westminster 
			 National Maritime Museum Greenwich and Woolwich 
			   
			 National Museum of Science and Industry, branches:  
			 Locomotion, Shildon Sedgefield/Bishop Auckland 
			 National Museum of Photography, Film and Television Bradford West 
			 National Railway Museum, York City of York 
			 NMSI Wroughton Swindon South 
			 Science Museum London Kensington and Chelsea 
			 National Museums Liverpool:  
			 Conservation Centre Liverpool Riverside 
			 Customs and Excise National Museum Liverpool Riverside 
			 Lady Lever Art Gallery Wirral South 
			 Merseyside Maritime Museum Liverpool Riverside 
			 Museum of Liverpool Life Liverpool Riverside 
			 Sudley House Liverpool Riverside 
			 Walker Art Gallery Liverpool Riverside 
			 World Museum Liverpool Liverpool Riverside 
			 National Portrait Gallery Cities of London and Westminster 
			   
			 Natural History Museum, branches:  
			 South Kensington Kensington and Chelsea 
			 Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum, Tring South West Hertfordshire 
			 Peoples History Museum Manchester Central 
			   
			 Royal Armouries, branches:  
			 Leeds Leeds Central 
			 Fort Nelson Winchester 
			 Tower of London Bethnal Green and Bow 
			 Sir John Soane's Museum Holborn and St. Pancras 
			   
			 Tate Gallery, branches:  
			 Tate Britain Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Tate Liverpool Liverpool Riverside 
			 Tate Modern North Southwark and Bermondsey 
			 Tate St. Ives St. Ives 
			   
			 Tyne and Wear Museums, branches:  
			 Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum South Shields 
			 Discovery Museum Tyne Bridge 
			 Laing Art Gallery Newcastle upon Tyne Central 
			 Monkwearmouth Station Museum  
			 Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 
			 Shipley Art Gallery Tyne Bridge 
			 South Sheilds Museum South Shields 
			 Stephenson Railway Museum Tynemouth 
			 Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens Sunderland South 
			  Sunderland North 
			 Victoria and Albert Museum, branches:  
			 Museum of Childhood Bethnal Green and Bow 
			 South Kensington Kensington and Chelsea 
			 Theatre Museum Cities of London and Westminster 
			 Wallace Collection Cities of London and Westminster 
		
	
	Note:
	The funding goes to the main institution and is redistributed by each institution to its branches.
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence funds the following museums in England:
	
		
			 Museum Parliamentary Constituency 
		
		
			 Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton Somerton and Frome 
			 National Army Museum, Chelsea Kensington and Chelsea 
			   
			 Royal Air Force Museum (RAFM), branches:  
			 RAF M, Hendon Hendon 
			 RAFMt Cosford The Wrekin 
			   
			 Royal Marines Museum, Eastney Portsmouth South 
			 Royal Naval Museum Portsmouth Portsmouth South 
			 Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport Gosport 
		
	
	Some museums and galleries in England may also receive funding support from Government for specific projects and programmes, including the DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Museums and Galleries Improvement Scheme and Renaissance in the Regions. The latter is grant-aided through the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

National Lottery

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what value of National Lottery grants were allocated within each Westminster constituency in Scotland in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The following tables show the number and value of National Lottery grants allocated within each Westminster constituency in Scotland in each year since 1997, up to 5 May 2005, as the constituency boundary changes make it impossible to present like-for-like comparisons.
	This list, derived from the Department's Lottery award database, is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
	
		Value of awards in each Westminster constituency in Scotland since 1997 up to 5 May 2005 -- 000
		
			 UK constituency 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 1,188 799 1,324 2,312 3,651 2,154 5,277 2,281 248 
			 Aberdeen North 554 16 2,774 224 2,534 191 3,116 449 70 
			 Aberdeen South 817 123 134 19 247 48 102 539 29 
			 Airdrie and Shotts 79 325 455 190 559 774 1,240 1,628 25 
			 Angus 230 529 902 306 981 1,962 984 1,033 20 
			 Argyll and Bute 1,431 596 4,856 3,499 4,063 2,738 6,513 1,596 560 
			 Ayr 351 484 1,105 393 2,099 1,411 2,964 314 191 
			 Banff and Buchan 109 1,283 442 347 218 697 1,158 769 46 
			 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 630 1,453 1,436 1,665 1,513 2,463 1,247 403 71 
			 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 1,849 306 332 762 1,022 536 395 1,631 89 
			 Central Fife 46 64 134 717 1,188 273 474 392 23 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 106 109 276 663 664 450 609 1,104 27 
			 Clydesdale 850 962 3,578 883 641 2,585 1,363 880 258 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 90 306 228 1,544 1,272 1,636 3,411 350 38 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 175 754 652 200 108 1,326 1,803 1,996 48 
			 Cunninghame North 247 1,124 758 2,128 4,680 1,932 1,040 2,886 28 
			 Cunninghame South 111 133 1,306 142 746 987 1,621 1,441 32 
			 Dumbarton 562 2,518 1,115 530 2,098 3,983 2,060 931 67 
			 Dumfries 826 2,541 1,843 534 3,265 1,911 3,516 1,131 1,835 
			 Dundee East 2,654 1,017 377 699 4,097 389 362 589 204 
			 Dundee West 3,039 6,223 1,311 833 2,562 3,387 5,820 3,225 102 
			 Dunfermline East 110 265 2,000 123 1,202 578 206 427 65 
			 Dunfermline West 606 1,658 444 1,566 850 389 269 1,401 46 
			 East Kilbride 4,695 311 90 169 424 407 141 461 22 
			 East Lothian 2,037 863 2,685 707 1,107 539 2,986 1,151 142 
			 Eastwood 1,307 345 806 804 1,907 1,989 1,874 1,358 302 
			 Edinburgh Central 6,956 14,868 17,179 6,970 22,950 3,537 24,636 3,346 761 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 1,257 1,565 2,128 680 1,735 790 958 1,189 251 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 9,263 5,425 3,110 5,017 4,588 4,964 6,382 1,927 513 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 2,933 1,113 632 312 1,090 2,272 663 121 39 
			 Edinburgh South 309 2,357 664 478 1,058 1,746 497 2,604 56 
			 Edinburgh West 830 713 2,441 3,788 4,740 77 3,285 160 54 
			 Falkirk East 25 177 1,444 764 1,117 920 1,620 1,628 765 
			 Falkirk West 39 438 793 440 647 1,171 1,310 228 24 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 525 664 1,039 2,200 1,112 815 1,617 1,100 248 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 469 241 154 121 871 217 542 4,261 59 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 191 304 1,902 162 2,699 1,022 401 470 77 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 340 944 978 242 1,420 1,320 1,148 1,582 22 
			 Glasgow Govan 37,259 615 705 590 977 618 1,140 694 1,427 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 29,772 16,922 9,044 6,351 13,475 28,090 23,688 3,989 17,170 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 34,851 1,905 910 1,350 596 689 2,423 1,617 1,904 
			 Glasgow Pollok 28 1,996 83 66 2,090 28 117 595 52 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 59 184 268 428 734 2,069 2,719 237 33 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 509 3,863 1,357 2,941 1,642 2,033 1,904 1,281 64 
			 Glasgow Springburn 631 1,037 3,094 73 317 436 2,097 1,524 96 
			 Gordon 802 674 399 628 1,369 619 287 1,723 56 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 335 71 1,941 617 1,855 2,612 658 594 98 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 3,094 1,569 1,321 362 1,496 1,821 3,301 990 805 
			 Hamilton South 86 100 436 268 247 167 465 220 24 
			 Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber 1,884 1,061 1,800 3,021 5,138 3,402 4,728 3,057 263 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 143 248 2,432 1,846 2,263 609 2,266 694 45 
			 Kirkcaldy 104 1,046 1,352 190 1,102 2,448 4,189 1,322 71 
			 Linlithgow 802 734 347 1,091 1,074 2,305 3,327 1,930 27 
			 Livingston 346 1,166 1,399 108 294 1,128 468 1,544 98 
			 Midlothian 4,144 595 1,331 522 1,073 1,639 1,252 1,459 86 
			 Moray 373 515 2,060 644 1,968 1,068 1,193 640 127 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 480 888 3,231 283 393 612 353 1,053 15 
			 North East Fife 511 1,708 636 1,759 3,876 868 1,447 479 125 
			 North Tayside 1,572 10,462 1,492 826 1,076 2,101 1,879 338 94 
			 Ochil 683 800 4,497 4,857 3,299 136 1,883 1,132 104 
			 Orkney and Shetland 1,139 1,599 1,373 6,514 2,792 9,410 3,799 1,390 145 
			 Paisley North 59 445 2,138 694 2,779 2,579 3,716 187 45 
			 Paisley South 493 387 62 102 1,983 427 663 266 70 
			 Perth 456 917 1,702 464 991 1,082 2,101 1,615 78 
			 Ross, Skye and Inverness West 2,110 1,881 2,630 2,977 1,143 5,780 4,822 1,724 224 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 304 176 1,707 1,944 912 2,437 1,641 1,799 97 
			 Stirling 896 4,784 2,159 2,221 1,204 953 2,456 1,096 249 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 200 536 920 238 1,358 542 1,467 1,189 80 
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale 536 301 2,662 2,193 3,728 3,753 1,627 384 108 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 946 415 533 1,172 1,299 1,025 1,299 230 90 
			 West Renfrewshire 76 680 2,517 604 37 1,705 1,043 1,095 80 
			 Western Isles 5,337 1,161 2,435 1,743 1,013 6,652 3,249 1,749 63 
		
	
	
		Number of awards in each Westminster constituency in Scotland since 1997 up to 5 May 2005
		
			 UK constituency 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Aberdeen Central 19 12 19 18 25 43 53 43 8 
			 Aberdeen North 12 5 15 6 10 13 10 8 3 
			 Aberdeen South 19 8 13 6 5 6 11 18  
			 Airdrie and Shotts 31 27 50 37 44 38 33 39 4 
			 Angus 20 25 46 30 36 26 37 34 1 
			 Argyll and Bute 38 52 138 92 75 82 112 111 22 
			 Ayr 21 21 33 32 32 41 25 28 8 
			 Banff and Buchan 19 28 39 28 27 18 38 39 6 
			 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 60 59 74 66 38 50 74 68 8 
			 Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley 41 56 67 53 45 49 49 49 8 
			 Central Fife 13 27 28 25 25 22 13 19 2 
			 Clydebank and Milngavie 16 15 24 22 12 20 28 25 6 
			 Clydesdale 43 37 98 70 56 63 64 49 15 
			 Coatbridge and Chryston 26 35 56 39 41 35 29 36 2 
			 Cumbernauld and Kilsyth 11 21 36 17 14 25 49 39 7 
			 Cunninghame North 24 32 69 43 48 45 42 41 3 
			 Cunninghame South 18 30 49 31 29 30 19 27 4 
			 Dumbarton 36 45 58 30 38 34 33 33 6 
			 Dumfries 53 56 50 33 41 45 66 58 7 
			 Dundee East 24 12 25 23 20 22 22 31 2 
			 Dundee West 20 26 31 21 45 58 66 60 12 
			 Dunfermline East 26 34 49 28 39 13 20 25 5 
			 Dunfermline West 30 31 34 27 22 21 13 18 4 
			 East Kilbride 43 25 39 26 22 21 26 35 3 
			 East Lothian 21 26 59 29 31 30 50 41 7 
			 Eastwood 18 23 45 24 30 34 37 40 8 
			 Edinburgh Central 60 63 86 65 105 97 229 169 37 
			 Edinburgh East and Musselburgh 16 25 42 26 31 40 41 41 10 
			 Edinburgh North and Leith 46 42 61 57 65 78 192 142 31 
			 Edinburgh Pentlands 28 20 33 24 22 26 34 29 5 
			 Edinburgh South 24 21 21 16 25 33 40 45 4 
			 Edinburgh West 18 18 32 15 26 17 28 33 9 
			 Falkirk East 14 17 48 29 17 14 19 17 3 
			 Falkirk West 14 12 30 16 18 20 17 25 3 
			 Galloway and Upper Nithsdale 69 64 96 72 57 71 64 61 8 
			 Glasgow Anniesland 17 13 19 11 19 18 23 36 5 
			 Glasgow Baillieston 15 9 22 8 11 13 15 19 3 
			 Glasgow Cathcart 15 17 29 16 11 18 30 25 3 
			 Glasgow Govan 25 26 42 42 35 44 39 54 12 
			 Glasgow Kelvin 65 72 85 73 88 149 240 197 64 
			 Glasgow Maryhill 30 19 27 19 16 47 78 70 23 
			 Glasgow Pollok 10 20 27 15 12 9 11 15 1 
			 Glasgow Rutherglen 25 26 40 26 22 21 24 28 4 
			 Glasgow Shettleston 20 21 30 27 29 31 46 46 7 
			 Glasgow Springburn 20 16 31 15 20 24 46 44 12 
			 Gordon 26 28 40 35 39 34 33 44 6 
			 Greenock and Inverclyde 17 13 42 22 29 37 23 32 9 
			 Hamilton North and Bellshill 17 25 25 21 30 35 37 27 3 
			 Hamilton South 30 15 23 24 12 22 20 19 3 
			 Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber 53 52 78 70 62 60 105 105 14 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 36 35 44 41 36 30 38 21 5 
			 Kirkcaldy 16 20 44 28 30 33 27 31 7 
			 Linlithgow 15 30 54 33 31 28 25 20 2 
			 Livingston 20 39 41 36 29 27 26 33 6 
			 Midlothian 33 35 39 20 24 26 31 38 5 
			 Moray 28 38 65 40 41 41 56 44 7 
			 Motherwell and Wishaw 24 28 52 46 37 24 15 24 2 
			 North East Fife 25 38 49 46 43 50 44 42 17 
			 North Tayside 45 44 63 45 47 38 61 47 8 
			 Ochil 37 40 64 23 34 32 47 48 6 
			 Orkney and Shetland 41 48 66 54 68 60 82 65 10 
			 Paisley North 13 19 22 25 21 21 30 19 9 
			 Paisley South 18 19 34 22 23 22 20 20 5 
			 Perth 25 36 55 39 27 31 40 37 6 
			 Ross, Skye and Inverness West 61 61 92 72 57 83 107 106 24 
			 Roxburgh and Berwickshire 29 23 62 44 29 43 56 73 9 
			 Stirling 33 41 61 53 41 33 72 59 10 
			 Strathkelvin and Bearsden 35 32 49 31 22 22 46 33 5 
			 Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale 32 34 54 43 46 58 59 52 11 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 29 34 51 51 33 41 45 43 12 
			 West Renfrewshire 16 26 46 28 12 28 21 29 9 
			 Western Isles 42 34 64 44 40 52 61 59 3

Notting Hill Carnival

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money the Government have spent on the Notting Hill Carnival in each year since 1992.

David Lammy: My Department sets broad policy objectives for the arts but does not organise or fund directly any cultural or artistic events. This is done through Arts Council England. Arts Council England and its predecessor organisations have funded the Notting Hill Carnival in two ways:
	Regular funding for the Notting Hill Carnival Trust up to 200304;
	Funding for organisations and individuals involved in carnival.
	
		Regular funding to the Notting Hill carnival trust -- 
		
			  Funding allocated 
		
		
			 199293 (132) 
			 199394 65,000 
			 199495 65,000 
			 199596 65,000 
			 199697 65,000 
			 199798 65,000 
			 199899 65,000 
			 19992000 65,000 
			 200001 67,600 
			 200102 70,304 
			 200203 (133)140,000 
			 200304 (134)170,000 
		
	
	(132)Unavailable.
	(133)Of which 60,000 was subsequently withdrawn.
	(134)This money was subsequently withdrawn and reinvested in Carnival activities and organisations for 200405.
	
		Estimated Notting Hill carnival project funding and funding to other Notting Hill carnival organisations 199394 to 200001 -- 
		
			  Estimated funding 
		
		
			 199394 60,000 
			 199495 60,000 
			 199596 60,000 
			 199697 60,000 
			 199798 60,000 
			 199899 100,000 
			 19992000 160,000 
			 200001 200,000 
		
	
	
		Estimated Notting Hill carnival project funding and funding to other Notting Hill carnival organisations 199394 to 200001 -- 
		
			   Project funding Funding to other regularly funded organisations 
		
		
			 200102 106,000 186,314 
			 200203 120,000 190,366 
			 200304 127,000 303,556 
		
	
	40th anniversary of the Carnival:
	In 200405 the total funding figure was 478,624. This included Lottery funding via Grants for the Arts of 253,624 for activities directly related to the Carnival.
	
		Special anniversary events funding -- 
		
			 Use Amount 
		
		
			 Raising the profile of carnival arts. Production of a documentary film about artists involved in carnival in London. 50,000 
			 Towards one-off awards for individuals and organisations for costumes and presentations celebrating the anniversary. 55,000 
			 Towards a special 40th anniversary edition of Soca news. 15,000 
			 Towards events including Trafalgar Square launch and showcasing carnival in Black History Month. 40,000 
			 Towards an initiative placing carnival costumes in London's public buildings. 10,000 
			 Total 170,000 
		
	
	24 carnival organisations in Londonbands, clubs, costume makers, designers and artistsreceive regular funding. In 200405 this totalled 413,250.
	200506:
	Due to pending applications for funding, no total figure for 200506 is yet available, but to date, 239,890 has been awarded through Lottery Grants for the Arts for individuals and organisations involved in the 2005 Notting Hill Carnival. Please note that further applications for carnival funding are currently pending for 200506.
	24 regularly funded carnival organisations in London have been allocated a total budget of 545,133 for 200506. This includes 55,000 for the Notting Hill Mass Bands Association for the 2005 Grand Carnival Splash at Alexandra Palace.

Opinion Surveys

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) subject matter and (b) dates were of opinion survey research undertaken by the Department and its agencies in the last 12 months; if she will place copies of the results of each survey in the Library; which companies were used in conducting the research; and how much each was paid.

David Lammy: There have been six pieces of survey research commissioned by the Department and/or its executive agency which have collected information on opinions.
	In some cases, the surveys are not exclusively around opinions, but have a wider function of understanding an aspect of behaviour in relation to a departmental policy area. Surveys included are those which have been completed in the past 12 months. Not all have yet been published, as they may form part of a wider piece of work. Links to reports available on the internet are attached, while hard-copy only reports will be placed in the Library now, or when published.
	This list does not include work commissioned by the Department's non- departmental public bodies.
	1.Subject: Public Support for the 2012 Olympic Games coming to London.
	Dates: July to November 2004
	Name of Contractor: 'Economics for the Environment Consultancy' (EFTEC)
	Costs: 84,670
	This report has not yet been finalised and will be published in due course.
	2.Subject: Communal TV systems and digital switchover among social housing stock in the UK.
	Dates: Commissioned September 2004
	Name of contractor: NOP
	Costs: 36,000
	The report has been published on-line at: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/publications/pub_communaltv_ systems.html.
	I am arranging for hard copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	3.Subject: BBC Charter Reviewpublic attitudes towards the BBC
	Dates: January 2005
	Name of contractor: Craig Ross Dawson
	Costs: 23,700
	The report has been published on-line at: www.bbccharterreview.org.uk/RESEARCH/research_ qualitative.html.
	I am arranging for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	4.Subject: Royal Parks Visitor Surveys
	Dates: May to December 2004 (to be repeated in 2005 and 2006)
	Name of contractor: Synovate
	Costs: 126,000 (over the period 200406)
	The report is available on request in hard-copy only. I am arranging for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	5.Subject: Public Awareness of Safety Regulations in Public Swimming Pools
	Dates: March 2005
	Name of contractor: MORI
	Costs: 3,850
	The report is available on request in hard-copy only. I am arranging for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	6.Subject: Live Music Provision in Small and Medium Sized Venues in England
	Dates: June to October 2004
	Name of contractor: MORI
	Costs: 125,000
	The report is published on-line at: www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/85EDEDOB- A8E346749C99 62C1CC97AFFC/0/livemusicsurvey.pdf.
	I am arranging for copies of the document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Playing Fields

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy to end the sale of school and community playing fields.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to protecting playing fields wherever possible. Recently published statistics show that the legislative changes we have introduced are working. In 200304 there was a reduction in the number of playing field losses to non-sporting developments compared with 200203 figures and a net overall gain in school and community playing field provision. This is the first year that we can say that more playing fields are being created than lost.
	We will continue to explore ways in which the legislation can be tightened further so that even more playing fields can be protected.

Playing Fields

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport how many community and school playing fields have been sold in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: We do not collect information in this format. Since 200102 we have collected statistics about planning applications relating to playing field use. Key figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Total number of planning applications: Number of approved applications: 
			  received relating to playing fields use considered in year representing a net gain or no change to sporting provision detrimental to playing fields 
		
		
			 200102 985 856 804 52 
			 200203 1297 955 879 76 
			 200304 1413 1081 1029 52 
		
	
	We are committed to improving playing fields and protecting them wherever possible. The legislative changes we have introduced have reduced the loss of school and community playing fields. More playing fields are now being created or improved than are being lost.

Private Finance Projects

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 583W, on private finance projects, what total value of assets and liabilities for the project is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet; what proportion of assets and liabilities is listed; what the accounting treatment is for assets and liabilities; and whether it is compatible with (a) generally accepted accounting practices and (b) international financial reporting standards.

David Lammy: No value is recorded on the Government Balance Sheet.
	The accounting treatment complies with FRS5 and treatment reflects guidance, in particular, HM Treasury Private Finance Taskforce's Technical Note No 1How to Account for PFI Transactions. This complies with all aspects of UK GAAP. We are currently waiting for Treasury guidance on treatment of PFI projects under International Financial Reporting Standards. At present these standards do not apply to these projects.

Public Libraries

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) books, (b) DVDs, (c) video cassettes, (d) computer games and (e) audio books have been available in library service stock in each year since 1997; how many loans were made of each type of item in each year; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The information is not held centrally. However, the following table shows the number of books, talking books, video/DVD, and CD-Roms, software, etc. items held by libraries in England, and the number of loans annually in each of these categories, since 199798.
	
		Million
		
			  199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Books(135) 73.91 72.69 70.39 69.47 67.83 66.41 64.76 
			 Loans 407.50 389.06 362.82 342.91 318.34 305.11 289.22 
			 Talking books 1.62 1.65 1.78 1.86 1.87 1.89 2.19 
			 Loans 11.16 10.68 11.11 11.23 10.78 11.57 11.30 
			 Video/DVD 1.24 1.38 1.48 1.60 1.63 1.87 2.06 
			 Loans 9.92 11.05 11.26 11.89 12.15 14.03 14.43 
			 CD-Roms, software, etc 0.04 0.04 0.06 0.11 0.19 0.13 0.12 
			 Loans 0.59 0.65 0.23 0.64 1.26 0.78 0.52 
		
	
	(135)Lending stock only
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and AccountancyPublic Library Statistics (Actuals)

Library Fines

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was collected in public library fines in each London borough in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally. However, the table shows the total amount of overdue charges collected by library authorities across inner and outer London for each year between 199798 and 200304.
	
		
			  Overdue charges collected () 
		
		
			 199798 818,673 
			 199899 846,378 
			 19992000 955,407 
			 200001 888,044 
			 200102 1,031,046 
			 200203 918,802 
			 200304 946,016 
		
	
	Source:
	The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: Annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals).

Library Fines

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue the library service has generated from (a) late book returns, (b) DVD loans, (c) video cassette loans and (d) computer game loans in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally. However, the table shows the revenue derived by public libraries in England from overdue charges and the hire of audio and visual items since 199798.
	
		 million
		
			  Overdue charges Hire of audio/visual materials 
		
		
			 199798 15.54 15.37 
			 199899 15.67 16.86 
			 19992000 15.44 17.95 
			 200001 15.61 18.87 
			 200102 14.91 21.01 
			 200203 14.27 23.50 
			 200304 14.28 24.13 
		
	
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and AccountancyPublic Library Statistics (Actuals)

Regional Casinos

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will review the number of regional casinos to be developed in the initial pilot scheme.

Richard Caborn: The Gambling Act makes provision, initially, for one regional casino. We are proceeding with plans for implementing the Act on that basis.
	We do not rule out the possibility of asking Parliament to approve an increase in the number of regional casinos in the future. We will consider any evidence that it is safe and prudent in regulatory terms to increase the number to anything up to eight. Any proposal to increase the number will ultimately be a matter for approval by Parliament, by means of the affirmative resolution procedure.

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the role of regional cultural consortiums is in delivering her Department's policies;
	(2)  what targets the regional cultural consortiums have been set.

David Lammy: The role of the regional cultural consortiums is to champion and promote the whole spectrum of cultural and creative interests in each region, including tourism and sport, and to forge links across this spectrum and with other related interests. The consortiums are also responsible for the implementation of regional cultural strategies, and they have a role in central policy making, regional data collection and research.
	We have agreed a series of objectives and tasks, rather than specific targets, with each consortium to reflect their role in helping to deliver the Department's priorities at regional level. These are set out in their Funding Agreements with the Department. I am arranging for copies of the Funding Agreements to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the composition of each regional cultural consortium is.

David Lammy: The board members of the regional cultural consortiums represent a wide range of cultural, creative, sporting and related interests in each region. The chairs of the consortiums are appointed by the Secretary of State. The other board members are appointed by the chairs in consultation with other regional partners. The list of board members of each consortium is available in the sponsored bodies section of the Department's annual report.

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the performance of the regional cultural consortiums.

David Lammy: The regional cultural consortiums are required by their Funding Agreements to submit progress reports to the Department every six months, as well as their annual reports and any other reports we may ask for from time to time.
	Officials have recently finished reviewing the consortiums' six monthly reports for the second half of the financial year 200405, which are the first such reports the consortiums have submitted since they were re-established as executive NDPBs with limited company status in October 2004. On the basis of those reports and further information received since they were submitted, I am satisfied with the performance of the regional cultural consortiums.
	This information is correct at the 26 July 2005.

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the annual administrative cost of each regional cultural consortium was in 200405.

David Lammy: The regional cultural consortiums each received an allocation of 200,000 from the Department for the financial year 200405. They have each been given an allocation of 215,000 for each of the three years from 200506 to 200708. The consortiums also receive additional funding and support from their regional partners. Information on the administrative costs of the consortiums will be included in their annual reports and accounts which will be published in the autumn.

Reserve Art Collections

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether works of art in national museums and galleries not on display are covered by government indemnity in the event of loss or accident.

David Lammy: A work of art which has been loaned to a national museum or gallery by a private individual or an institution not funded by the Exchequer will be covered by the government indemnity scheme whether it is on display or in storage, provided that a government indemnity has been issued in relation to it. However, government indemnities are not issued in respect of works of art which belong to the national museums and galleries. They bear their own risk.

School Sport

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how many school children took part in some form of school sport in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of school children spend at least two hours a week on high quality physical education and school sport.

David Lammy: The 200304 PE, School Sport and Club Links surveythe first, largest and most comprehensive survey of school sport in Englandis the only source of robust data on national participation in school sport.
	The survey found that overall, 62 per cent. of pupils in the 6,500 schools taking part spend at least two hours in a typical week on high quality PE and school sport. The results of the survey were published on 29 April 2004 and copies of the report (The Impact of School Sport Partnerships: The Results of the 200304 PE, School Sports and Club Links Survey) have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The results of the 200405 surveyin which over 11,000 schools took partwill be published in the autumn.
	Physical education is a foundation subject within the National Curriculum. It is compulsory at all Key Stages for all pupils.

Television Licences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue the fines from unpaid television licences generated in 200405; and to which departments the revenue is allocated.

James Purnell: Information is available only for England, Scotland and Wales, and relates to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. In 2003, the latest year for which information is available, fines totalling 9,181,186 were imposed for offences under these Acts. Information is not held centrally on the proportion of fines collected by type of offence. Revenue from fines is remitted to central funds.

Television Licences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many unpaid television licences there were in each year since 1997.

James Purnell: There are by definition no precise figures for television licence evasion. Evasion is estimated by comparing the estimated number of premises requiring a licence with the number of licences in force. The estimated number of evaders as at the end of March each year since 1997 was:
	
		(millions)
		
			  Estimated number of evaders 
		
		
			 1997 2.4 
			 1998 2.2 
			 1999 2.0 
			 2000 1.8 
			 2001 1.7 
			 2002 1.7 
			 2003 1.5 
			 2004 1.4 
			 2005 1.3

The Valletta Convention

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she plans to bring into force the operational guidelines of the European Convention on the Protection of Cultural Heritage 1992 (The Valletta Convention).

David Lammy: The Valetta Convention 1992, ratified by the UK Government in March 2001, lays out a legal and ethical framework in which all archaeology is to be carried out throughout Europe. It is for each Government to apply the Convention in ways that fit in with national practice and legislation and there are no prescriptive operational guidelines common to all countries.
	Current measures in place in the UK already meet the Convention's requirements. These include legislation such as the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979; policy guidance e.g.Planning Policy Guidance Note 16: Archaeology and Planning (PPG16); and organisations such as English Heritage and other state-funded archaeological bodies, county and local authority archaeologists.
	English Heritage, Historic Scotland, Cadw, DoE Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, together with the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers, the Council for British Archaeology and the Institute of Field Archaeologists have been working together on the development of a statement of archaeological principles, which archaeologists will be encouraged to sign up to.

Tourism

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to encourage and promote tourism in Bedfordshire.

James Purnell: Tourism in Bedfordshire has benefited from Government-funded marketing activity. In April 2003 my Department established VisitBritain with a new domestic marketing remit for England, and we gave strategic responsibility for tourism development to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). In respect of Bedfordshire, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) leads on tourism in partnership with the East of England Tourist Board (EETB). These changes, together with VisitBritain's successful marketing activities in promoting Britain abroad as an attractive tourist destination, benefit all parts of the country, including Bedfordshire.

Tourism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effects on tourism in London of the bombings on 7 July 2005; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group is assessing the effects of the bombings on tourism in London and across the UK. The group was established after the foot and mouth outbreak to co-ordinate work in the public and private sectors following emergencies affecting the UK tourism industry. It includes senior representatives of the travel, hospitality and attractions sectors, as well as my Department, VisitBritain, Visit London, the London Development Agency, and the Tourism Alliance. It met on 8, 13, and 22 July.
	At its first meeting, the group commissioned work on the economic effects of the bombings from Oxford Economic Forecasting. The initial results of that work suggested that spending by inbound tourists may fall by 2 per cent. for 2005 as a whole, compared to earlier forecasts for the year. Even so, visitor arrivals and spending were expected to rise by 7 per cent. compared to 2004.
	These initial results took no account of the further events of 21 July, and the scope of the work commissioned from Oxford Economic Forecasting has been extended to include the events of 21 July. The initial results of this are expected to be made available to the group on 11 August.
	This information is correct at 26 July 2005.

Tourism

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the effect that the bomb attacks committed on 7 July have had on London's tourism industry;
	(2)  what representations her Department has received from the tourism industry regarding the impact of the 7 July bomb attacks on tourism;
	(3)  what steps she has taken to minimise the potential damage to the UK tourism industry of the 7 July bomb attacks.

James Purnell: I discussed the effects of the bomb attacks on the visitor economy with representatives of the tourism industry, VisitBritain, and Visit London, on 12 July. I have received further representations through the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group, which was established after the foot and mouth outbreak to co-ordinate work in the public and private sectors following emergencies affecting the UK tourism industry.
	The group includes senior representatives of the travel, hospitality and attractions sectors, as well as my Department, VisitBritain, Visit London, the London Development Agency, and the Tourism Alliance. It met on 8, 13 and 22 July. At its first meeting, the group commissioned work on the economic effects of the bombings from Oxford Economic Forecasting. The initial results of that work suggested that spending by inbound tourists may fall by 2 per cent. for 2005 as a whole, compared to earlier forecasts for the year. Even so, visitor arrivals and spending were expected to rise by 7 per cent. compared to 2004.
	These initial results took no account of the further events of 21 July, and the scope of the work commissioned from Oxford Economic Forecasting has been extended to include the events of 21 July. The initial results of this are expected to be made available to the group on 11 August.
	This information is correct at 26 July 2005.

Travel Costs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on airline travel for officials in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: The table shows departmental expenditure on travel and subsistence in each year since 1997. An analysis by type of expenditure is not recorded on the Department's accounting system and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel complies with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199798 256,166.64 
			 199899 252,990.17 
			 19992000 362,767.76 
			 200001 366,112.06 
			 200102 411,227.86 
			 200203 479,690.78 
			 200304 473,483.49 
			 200405 496,177.65 
			 200506(136) 171,874.81 
		
	
	(136)Spend to date at 22 July 2005.

Wembley Stadium

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what access Brent residents will have to sporting facilities associated with the Wembley stadium; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The only sporting facility at the Wembley Stadium will be the playing pitch, which will be used for top national and international events. The residents of Brent will be able to buy tickets for these events through the usual commercial channels.
	In terms of sporting benefits to the local community, there are several football industry funded football coaches and sports development officers working in the borough giving sporting opportunities to young people, like Rachel Yankey, an England International and Brent resident.
	Looking to the future, the Football Association, through Wembley National Stadium Ltd., has committed to creating a major new charitable trust which will benefit local, regional and national sports initiatives. A percentage of Wembley Stadium's annual turnover will be donated to the new trust.

Wembley Stadium

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the transport infrastructure around Wembley Stadium; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: We receive monthly reports and meet regularly with representatives from Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and the London Development Agency to discuss progress towards completion of the transport infrastructure improvements around the Wembley National Stadium.
	At July 2005 we have been assured that the work being taken forward is fully in line with the requirements set out for the regeneration of the Wembley area and that it will be completed in time to allow the Stadium to open as planned.